A dromon (from Greek δρόμων, dromōn,lit. 'runner') was a type of galley and the most important warship of the Byzantine navy from the 5th to 12th centuries AD, when they were succeeded by Italian-style galleys. It was developed from the ancient liburnian, which was the mainstay of the Roman navy during the Empire.[2]
Middle English dromond and Old French dromont are derived from the dromon, and described any particularly large medieval ship.[3]