Category:Keel

Keel, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. c to cool, fr. c cool. See Cool.]

Defn: To cool; to akin or stir [Obs.] While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. Shak.

keel Keel, n.

Defn: A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

keel Keel, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. ceól ship; akin to D. & G. kiel keel, OHG. chiol ship, Icel. kj, and perh. to Gr. 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.]

1. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: A projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface. Bilge keel (Naut.), a keel peculiar to ironclad vessels, extending only a portion of the length of the vessel under the bilges. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- False keel. See under False. -- Keel boat. (a) A covered freight boat, with a keel, but no sails, used on Western rivers. [U. S.] (b) A low, flat-bottomed freight boat. See Keel, n., 3. -- 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. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

keel Keel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Keeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Keeling.]

1. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

2. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom. To keel over, to upset; to capsize. [Colloq.]