keel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a projection or ridge that suggests a keel
  2. noun the median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly
  3. noun one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability
  4. verb walk as if unable to control one's movements
    swag; lurch; stagger; careen; reel.
    • The drunken man staggered into the room

WordNet

Keel transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. clan to cool, fr. cl cool. See Cool.
Definitions
  1. To cool; to akin or stir Obs.
    While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. Shak.
Keel noun
Definitions
  1. A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.
Keel noun
Etymology
Cf. AS. ceól ship; akin to D. & G. kiel keel, OHG. chiol ship, Icel. kjll, and perh. to Gr. a round-built Phnician merchant vessel, bucket; cf. Skr. gla ball, round water vessel. But the meaning of the English word seems to come from Icel. kjölr keel, akin to Sw. köl, Dan. kjöl.
Definitions
  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, twentyone 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.
Keel intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Keeled ; present participle & verbal noun Keeling
Definitions
  1. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.
  2. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

Webster 1913