KEEL

keel

(noun) one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability

keel

(noun) the median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly

keel

(noun) a projection or ridge that suggests a keel

stagger, reel, keel, lurch, swag, careen

(verb) walk as if unable to control one’s movements; “The drunken man staggered into the room”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

keel (plural keels)

(nautical) A large beam along the underside of a ship’s hull from bow to stern.

(nautical) A rigid, flat piece of material anchored to the lowest part of the hull of a ship to give it greater control and stability.

(aeronautics) In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aeroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course.

(nautical) A type of flat-bottomed boat.

(zoology) The periphery of a whorl extended to form a more or less flattened plate; a prominent spiral ridge.

(botany) The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and enclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina.

A brewer's cooling vat.

Verb

keel (third-person singular simple present keels, present participle keeling, simple past and past participle keeled)

(intransitive, followed by "over") to collapse, to fall

To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

Etymology 2

Probably Gaelic cil, ruddle.

Noun

keel

(Scotland) Red chalk; ruddle.

Verb

keel (third-person singular simple present keels, present participle keeling, simple past and past participle keeled)

(Scotland, transitive) To mark with ruddle.

Etymology 3

Verb

keel (third-person singular simple present keels, present participle keeling, simple past and past participle keeled)

Pronunciation spelling of kill.

Anagrams

• Kele, Leek, elke, leek, lekë

Source: Wiktionary


Keel, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. c to cool, fr. c cool. See Cool.]

Definition: To cool; to akin or stir [Obs.] While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. Shak.

Keel, n.

Definition: A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

Keel, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. ceól ship; akin to D. & G. kiel keel, OHG. chiol ship, Icel. kj, and perh. to Gr. gla ball, round water vessel. But the meaning of the English word seems to come from Icel. kjölr keel, akin to Sw. köl, Dan. kjöl.]

1. (Shipbuilding)

Definition: A longitudinal timber, or series of timbers scarfed together, extending from stem to stern along the bottom of a vessel. It is the principal timber of the vessel, and, by means of the ribs attached on each side, supports the vessel's frame. In an iron vessel, a combination of plates supplies the place of the keel of a wooden ship. See Illust. of Keelson.

2. Fig.: The whole ship.

3. A barge or lighter, used on the Type for carrying coal from Newcastle; also, a barge load of coal, twentyone tons, four cwt. [Eng.]

4. (Bot.)

Definition: The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and inclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. See Carina.

5. (Nat. Hist.)

Definition: A projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface. Bilge keel (Naut.), a keel peculiar to ironclad vessels, extending only a portion of the length of the vessel under the bilges. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

– False keel. See under False.

– Keel boat. (a) A covered freight boat, with a keel, but no sails, used on Western rivers. [U. S.] (b) A low, flat-bottomed freight boat. See Keel, n., 3.

– Keel piece, one of the timbers or sections of which a keel is composed. On even keel, in a level or horizontal position, so that the draught of water at the stern and the bow is the same. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Keel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Keeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Keeling.]

1. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

2. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom. To keel over, to upset; to capsize. [Colloq.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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