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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

keel¹ 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

keel Synonyms

keel

n.

board, bottom timber, keelson; see base 3, bottom 1, hull 1.

on an even keel

keel Usage Examples

Converse of object

lay: The JST's, Patron, HRH The Duke of York laid the keel in June 1996.

Adjective modifier

  • even: Just to get back on an even keel, you know.
  • deep: The main keel was different too, a deeper, heavier keel was used on the bilge keeler.
  • heavy: It is the heaviest lifting fin keel in the world.
  • long: For Med cruising the large diesel is a bonus but the long keel does make handling under power in small harbors a bit nerve-wracking.

Modifies a noun

  • plank: The real problem is the lower guide which is secured to the hull above the keel plank.
  • bolt: Hmmm, now I have to restore the 30 year old keel bolts.
  • boat: For more information on the keel boats try here.
  • plate: The first keel plate was laid at Chatham on December 1st 1900 by Mrs Atkinson.
  • box: The water was coming in from around the top of the keel box.
  • man: The keel men of the Tyne very concerned with the Welfare of their fellow workers thus they built a hospital in Newcastle.

Followed by an intransitive particle

over: Why, he'd keel over just with two draws.

Possessives

ship: On 10 December 1798, the ship's keel was laid.

Preposition: of

  • boat: A standard size aluminum case is bonded into the keel of the boat to which one of 4 aluminum fins can be fitted.
  • ship: The crew that escaped cut a hole in the keel of the ship.

Noun used with modifier

  • bilge: On the 21st May both bilge keels, made of Canadian rock elm were removed.
  • fin: It is the heaviest lifting fin keel in the world.
  • lifting: It is the heaviest lifting fin keel in the world.
  • iron: I could use the lead to make half round bars which could be fasted to the cast iron keel.
  • steel: Most models also have many accessories available from teak decks to camper tops, steel keel guards, tables and trim tabs.

Browse dictionary entries near keel

  1. keek
  2. keef
  3. Kedron
  4. kedgeree
  5. kedge
  6. Kedah
  7. Kecskemét
  8. keck
  9. Keble,John
  10. Keble
  1. keel over
  2. keelboat
  3. keelhaul
  4. Keeling Islands
  5. keelson
  6. Keelung
  7. keen
  8. keen-sighted
  9. Keenan, Brian
  10. keenly