The Collaborative International Dictionary
Dromond \Drom"ond\, or Dromon \Drom"on\ [OF. dromont, L. dromo,
fr. Gr. dro`mwn light vessel, prob. fr. dramei^n to run. See
Dromedary.]
In the Middle Ages, a large, fast-sailing galley, or cutter;
a large, swift war vessel. [Hist. or Archaic]
--Fuller.
The great dromond swinging from the quay. -- W. Morris.
Wiktionary
n. (context historical nautical English) a Byzantine bireme, similar to the chelandion, but used primarily for naval combat
Wikipedia
A dromon (from Greek δρόμων, dromōn, "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.
Middle English dromond and Old French dromont are derived from the dromon, and described any particularly large medieval ship.
Usage examples of "dromon".
The transports, all of them merchant sailing vessels, were escorted by two dromons, the oared warships favored by the Roman navy.
She scrambled about, requisitioning ships on Rhodes itself—and then, coming up short, sending Ashot with the dromons to commandeer some of the vessels at Seleuceia—until the expedition was finally ready to sail.
In the event of a conflict, the gunship would be in perfect position to sail downwind toward the dromons blocking the harbor.
But the word dromon meant "racer," and the sleek naval craft positioned at the entrance to the Great Harbour lived up to the term.
Then, walked over to the starboard rail and stared at the dromon rolling in the waves not far from her ship.
After disembarking the four envoys, the dromon had withdrawn some thirty yards and positioned itself facing her flagship.
At the moment, they were simply being used to keep the dromon in position.
But it was obvious to Antonina that the dromon would be able to ram her on an instant's notice.
If that dromon can get up to ramming speed, it'll punch a hole right through the side of this ship.
The grenadiers, Antonina saw, would be invisible to the seamen manning the low-lying dromon until they appeared at the rail itself, tossing their grenades.
But, after a moment, she realized that only four of the dromons were heading toward her.
Two dromons, a hundred yards away, just now getting their oars untangled.
That dromon, too, began heading for the Great Harbor, yawing badly with only half a bank of oars on one side.
Instead of driving forward in the terrifying concentration of a war galley's ramming maneuver, the dromons were simply drifting.
The dromon was only ten yards away—close enough for the artificer's myopic eyes.