Definitions for: Keel


[n] one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability
[n] the median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly
[v] walk as if unable to control one's movements



Webster (1913) Definition: Keel (k[=e]l), v. t. & i. [AS. c[=e]lan to cool, fr.
c[=o]l cool. See Cool.]
To cool; to skim or stir. [Obs.]

While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. --Shak.


Keel, n.
A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.


Keel, n. [Cf. AS. ce['o]l ship; akin to D. & G. kiel
keel, OHG. chiol ship, Icel. kj[=o]ll, and perh. to Gr.
gay^los a round-built Ph[oe]nician merchant vessel, gaylo`s
bucket; cf. Skr. g[=o]la ball, round water vessel. But the
meaning of the English word seems to come from Icel. kj["o]lr
keel, akin to Sw. k["o]l, Dan. kj["o]l.]
1. (Shipbuilding) 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, twenty-one
tons, four cwt. [Eng.]

4. (Bot.) 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.) 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.]


Keel, n. (A["e]ronautics)
In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a
ship's keel; in an a["e]roplane, a fin or fixed surface
employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its
course.

Synonyms: careen, lurch, reel, stagger, swag

See Also: beam, bilge keel, carina, carinate, carinate bird, fin keel, flying bird, hull, walk

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