galleon, noun

Forms:
Also galeon, gallion, and with initial capital.
Origin:
English, South African DutchShow more Etymology obscure; either a special sense of English galleon, or calqued on South African Dutch galjoen (see galjoen).
obs.
In full galleon fish: the galjoen (sense 1), Coracinus capensis.
a1827 [see geelbek sense 1 a].
1843 J.C. Chase Cape of G.H. 168Galleon Fish...The most delicate and delicious of Cape fishes, but more plentiful in the Western than Eastern waters.
1853 L. Pappe Synopsis of Edible Fishes 23Dipterodon Capensis,..(Galjoenvisch, Galleon-fish)...Highly esteemed as food.
1864 T. Baines Explor. in S.-W. Afr. 19Many times we could see the gallion or other smaller fish, leaping like salmon three or four yards out of the water.
1890 A.G. Hewitt Cape Cookery 14Soused Galleon. Boil a medium-sized galleon fish.
1921 H.J. Mandelbrote tr. of O.F. Mentzel’s Descr. of Cape of G.H. I. 81Galleon has a finer flavour and is more tender than red fish, but its flesh is interwoven with many black veins that detract from its appetising appearance.
In full galleon fish:the galjoen (sense 1), Coracinus capensis.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18431921

Browse Related Words

By Category

Fish
Foods and Dishes

By Origin

English

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
gallamsiekte, nounn.gallsick, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English