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keel

 - 10 dictionary results

keel

1  [keel]
Use keel in a Sentence
–noun
1. Nautical. a central fore-and-aft structural member in the bottom of a hull, extending from the stem to the sternpost and having the floors or frames attached to it, usually at right angles: sometimes projecting from the bottom of the hull to provide stability.
2. Literary. a ship or boat.
3. a part corresponding to a ship's keel in some other structure, as in a dirigible balloon.
4. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Carina.
5. Botany, Zoology. a longitudinal ridge, as on a leaf or bone; a carina.
6. Also called brace molding. Architecture. a projecting molding the profile of which consists of two ogees symmetrically disposed about an arris or fillet.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
7. to turn or upset so as to bring the wrong side or part uppermost.
—Verb phrase
8. keel over,
a. to capsize or overturn.
b. to fall as in a faint: Several cadets keeled over from the heat during the parade.
—Idiom
9. on an even keel, in a state of balance; steady; steadily: The affairs of state are seldom on an even keel for long.
Origin:
1325–75; 1895–1900 for def. 8; ME kele < ON kjǫlr; c. OE cēol keel, ship; see keel 2

Related forms:
keeled, adjective

keel

2  [keel]
–noun British Dialect.
1. keelboat.
2. a keelboat load of coal; the amount of coal carried by one keelboat.
3. a measure of coal equivalent to 21 long tons and 4 hundredweight (21.5 metric tons).
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME kele < MD kiel ship; c. OE cēol ship, G kiel ship (obs.), keel 1

keel

3  [keel]
–verb (used with object) British Dialect.
to cool, esp. by stirring.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME kelen, OE cēlan to be cool; akin to cool

keel

4  [keel]
–noun
a red ocher stain used for marking sheep, lumber, etc.; ruddle.
Origin:
1475–85; earlier keyle (north and Scots dial.); cf. ScotGael cìl (itself perh. < E)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To keel
keel 1   (kēl)   
n.  

  1. Nautical

    1. The principal structural member of a ship, running lengthwise along the center line from bow to stern, to which the frames are attached.

    2. A ship.

  2. A structure, such as the breastbone of a bird, that resembles a ship's keel in function or shape.

  3. The principal structural member of an aircraft, resembling a ship's keel in shape and function.

  4. 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(s):
keel overTo collapse or fall into or as if into a faint.

[Middle English kele, from Old Norse kjölr.]
keel 2   (kēl)   
n.  

  1. Nautical

    1. A freight barge, especially one for carrying coal on the Tyne River in England.

    2. The load capacity of this barge.

  2. A British unit of weight formerly used for coal, equal to about 21.2 long tons.


[Middle English kele, from Middle Dutch kiel.]
keel 3   (kēl)   
tr.v.   keeled, keel·ing, keels Chiefly British
To make cool.

[Middle English kelen, from Old English cēlan, to cool; see gel- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

keel 
"lowest timber of a ship or boat," 1338, from O.N. kjölr "keel," from P.Gmc. *keluz, of uncertain origin. Etymologists say this is unconnected with the root of M.Du. kiel "ship," O.E. ceol "ship's prow," O.H.G. kiel, Ger. Kiel "ship," but the two words have influenced each other. This other word is said to be from P.Gmc. *keula, from PIE *geul- "rounded vessel." Keel still is used locally in England and U.S. for "flat-bottomed boat," especially on the Tyne. To keel over (1876) is from the nautical image of a ship turning keep-up. Keelhaul is 17c. from Du. kielhalen "to haul under the keel," an old punishment. The verb is 1838, Amer.Eng., from the noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: keel
Pronunciation: 'kEl
Function: noun
: acute septicemic salmonellosis or paratyphoid of ducklings marked by sudden collapse and death ofapparently healthy birds called also keel disease
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

keel

In addition to the idiom beginning with keel, also see on an even keel.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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