Keel — Defs

01 v. t. & i. To cool; to skim or stir.

1.
To cool; to skim or stir.[Obs.]
“While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.” — Shak.

02 n. A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

03 n. A longitudinal timber, or series of timbers scarfed together, extending from stem to stern along the bottom of a vessel. It is the principa…

1.
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.(Shipbuilding) See: Keelson
2.
Fig.: The whole ship.
3.
A barge or lighter, used on the Tyne for carrying coal from Newcastle; also, a barge load of coal, twenty-one tons, four cwt.[Eng.]
4.
The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and inclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. See Carina.(Bot.) See: Carina
5.
A projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface.(Nat. Hist.)
6.
In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aëroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course.(Aeronautics)

Phrases & compounds

Bilge keel — a keel peculiar to ironclad vessels, extending only a portion of the length of the vessel under the bilges.

False keel — See under False.

Keel boat — A covered freight boat, with a keel, but no sails, used on Western rivers.

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.

On an even keel — steady; balanced; steadily.

04 v. i. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

imp. & p. p. Keeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Keeling

Phrases & compounds

To keel over — to upset; to capsize.