keel

keel

keel¹ [kēl]

n.

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

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

vt., vi.

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

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☆ keel over

1. to turn over or upside down; upset; capsize

2. to fall over suddenly, as in a faint

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on an even keel

1. in or keeping an upright, level position

2. steady, stable, etc.

keel² [kēl]

n.

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

1. a flat-bottomed ship; esp., a low, flat-bottomed coal barge or lighter, used on the Tyne

2.

a) a barge load of coal

b) a British unit of weight for coal, equal to 21.1 long tons

keel³ [kēl]

vt.

[ME kelen < OE celan (akin to Ger kühlen) < base of col,COOL]

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

keel⁴ [kēl]

n.

[prob. < Ir or Gael cīl, ruddle]

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