† gallivat Obs.
Forms: 7 gellywat(te, 8 galleywat(t, gallevat, 8–9 gallivat.
[ad. Pg. galeota through East Indian channels: cf. galliot1.]
A large boat used in the Eastern seas, having a triangular sail as well as oars.
| 1613 Downton in Purchas Pilgrims (1625) I. 501 As soone as I anchored, I sent..Master Spooner, and Samuell Squire in my Gellywatte to sound the depths within the sands. 1756 Gentl. Mag. XXVI. 620 A number of vessels called galley-wats, about the size of our Gravesend tilt-boat, carrying six swivel guns, and 60 men. 1790 Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. II. 41 The gallivats are large row-boats, built like grabs, but of smaller dimensions, the largest seldom exceeding seventy tons. 1862 Beveridge Hist. India I. iii. vii. 510 The gallivats..combined the double advantage of sailing and row boats. |