GALILEE

Galilee

(noun) an area of northern Israel; formerly the northern part of Palestine and the ancient kingdom of Israel; the scene of Jesus’s ministry

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Noun

galilee (plural galilees)

(architecture) A narthex, particularly in the United Kingdom and the Church of England; a vestibule, a fully-enclosed yet porch-like structure, leading to the main body of an English ecclesiastical building.

In certain Syriac Christian churches, the baptistry.

Etymology

Proper noun

Galilee

A mountainous geographic region in northern Israel.

The Sea of Galilee.

Source: Wiktionary

Gal"i*lee, n. Etym: [Supposed to have been so termed in allusion to the scriptural "Galilee of the Gentiles." cf. OF. galilée.] (Arch.)

Definition: A porch or waiting room, usually at the west end of an abbey church, where the monks collected on returning from processions, where bodies were laid previous to interment, and where women were allowed to see the monks to whom they were related, or to hear divine service. Also, frequently applied to the porch of a church, as at Ely and Durham cathedrals. Gwilt.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition