See keel in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
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
Old Poet. a ship
anything resembling a ship's keel
the assembly of beams, girders, etc. at the bottom of a rigid or semirigid airship to prevent sagging or buckling
Biol. a ridgelike part
transitive verb, intransitive verb
to turn over on its side so as to turn up the keel or bottom
noun
a flat-bottomed ship; esp., a low, flat-bottomed coal barge or lighter, used on the Tyne
a barge load of coal
a British unit of weight for coal, equal to 21.1 long tons
transitive verb
Now Dial. to cool (a hot liquid) as by stirring
noun
a red stain used for marking lumber, etc.; ruddle
See keel in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kēl)
noun
Nautical
a. The principal structural member of a ship, running lengthwise along the center line from bow to stern, to which the frames are attached.
b. A ship.
A structure, such as the breastbone of a bird, that resembles a ship's keel in function or shape.
The principal structural member of an aircraft, resembling a ship's keel in shape and function.
A pair of united petals in certain flowers, as those of the pea.
intr. & tr.v.keeled, keel·ing, keels Nautical
To capsize or cause to capsize.
Phrasal Verb: keel over To collapse or fall into or as if into a faint.
(kēl)
noun
Nautical
a. A freight barge, especially one for carrying coal on the Tyne River in England.
b. The load capacity of this barge.
A British unit of weight formerly used for coal, equal to about 21.2 long tons.
(kēl)
transitive verbkeeled, keel·ing, keels Chiefly British