Dictionary

quadrireme en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkwɑdrəˌrim/ (US)
• /ˈkwɒd(ʒ)rɪriːm/ (UK)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin quadrirēmis via Middle French quadrirème, equivalent to quadri- (“four”) + Latin remus (“oar”).

Meanings

1. (historical) A galley with four banks of oars, each rowed by two oarsmen.
   • The Romanes hauing gained this prise, & ioyned hir to the Quadrireme bothe well furnished of all necessaries, kept them continnally in the entraunce, prohibiting withoute any difficultie the easie entrance of their enimies into Lilybeum. 1568, Polybius, translated by Christopher Watson, The hystories of the most famous and worthy cronographer Polybius […] , London: Thomas Hacket, page 60:
   • During three decades of peace the Venetian battle fleet had stagnated, but soon, once again, reserve galleys were pushing out of the Arsenal. A colossal quadrireme constructed by the scholar-turned-shipwright Vettor Fausto was loaded with batteries of cannon. 1980, Colin Thubron, Seafarers: The Venetians, page 121:

Forms

Relateds

trireme · polyreme · pentere · quinquereme · bireme · monoreme · unireme

Translations (4)

io quadriremo (galley with four banks of oars) · pt quadrirreme (galley with four banks of oars) · it quadrireme (galley with four banks of oars) · fr quadrirème (galley with four banks of oars)