keel Hear it!

keel1 definition

keel (kēl)

noun

  1. the chief timber or steel piece extending along the entire length of the bottom of a boat or ship and supporting the frame: it sometimes protrudes beneath the hull
  2. Old Poet. a ship
  3. anything resembling a ship's keel
  4. the assembly of beams, girders, etc. at the bottom of a rigid or semirigid airship to prevent sagging or buckling
  5. Biol. a ridgelike part

Etymology: ME kele < ON kjǫlr < Gmc *kelu- < IE base *gel-, to swallow > L gula, throat

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to turn over on its side so as to turn up the keel or bottom
keel Idioms

keel over

☆
  1. to turn over or upside down; upset; capsize
  2. to fall over suddenly, as in a faint

on an even keel

  1. in or keeping an upright, level position
  2. steady, stable, etc.
keel2 definition

keel (kēl)

noun

  1. a flat-bottomed ship; esp., a low, flat-bottomed coal barge or lighter, used on the Tyne
    1. a barge load of coal
    2. a British unit of weight for coal, equal to 21.1 long tons

Etymology: ME kele < MDu kiel, boat < Gmc *keula < IE *geul-, rounded vessel > Sans gōlā, ball, round jug

keel3 definition

keel (kēl)

transitive verb

Now Dial. to cool (a hot liquid) as by stirring

Etymology: ME kelen < OE celan (akin to Ger kühlen) < base of col, cool

keel4 definition

keel (kēl)

noun

a red stain used for marking lumber, etc.; ruddle

Etymology: prob. < Ir or Gael cīl, ruddle

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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