Origin and history of galliot

13c., "seagoing vessel having both sails and oars," from Old French galie, galee "boat, warship, galley," from Medieval Latin galea or Catalan galea, from Late Greek galea, of unknown origin. The word has made its way into most Western European languages. Originally "low, flat-built seagoing vessel of one deck," once a common type in the Mediterranean. Meaning "cooking range or cooking room on a ship" dates from 1750.

The printing sense of galley, "oblong tray that holds the type once set," is from 1650s, from French galée in the same sense, in reference to the shape of the tray. As a short form of galley-proof it is attested from 1890.

by 1808, nautical, "raw recruit, green hand," hence "clumsy, slovenly fellow," apparently originally a sailor's contemptuous word for soldiers or marines, of unknown origin.

"Dictionary of American Slang" proposes galut, Sierra Leone creole form of Spanish galeoto "galley slave." Also compare galleot, which is a common 18c. variant of galiot, galliot or else from Spanish galeóta, literally "little galley," a slight craft that can be sailed or rowed. "All the seamen on board a galleot are soldiers, and each has a musket by him" [Encyclopædia Perthensis, 1796], which might explain the use in reference to non-sailors.

In general (non-nautical) use by 1866, "awkward or boorish man," but often a term of humorous contempt.