careen Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun pitching dangerously to one side
    tilt; sway; rock.
  2. verb walk as if unable to control one's movements
    swag; lurch; stagger; keel; reel.
    • The drunken man staggered into the room
  3. verb move sideways or in an unsteady way
    tilt; wobble; shift.
    • The ship careened out of control

WordNet

Ca*reen" transitive verb
Etymology
OF. cariner, F. caréner, fr. OF. carène, the bottom of a ship, keel, fr. L. carina.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Careened ; present participle & verbal noun Careening
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) To cause (a vessel) to lean over so that she floats on one side, leaving the other side out of water and accessible for repairs below the water line; to case to be off the keel.
Ca*reen" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To incline to one side, or lie over, as a ship when sailing on a wind; to be off the keel.

Webster 1913