keel /kiːl/noun 10verb 7forms 3phrases 2 noun10 •A large beam along the underside of a ship’s hull from bow to stern.I hear the noise about thy keel; I hear the bell struck in the night: I see the cabin-window bright; I see the sailor at the wheel. — 1850 •A rigid, flat piece of material anchored to the lowest part of the hull of a ship to give it greater control and stability. •In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aeroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course. •The rigid bottom part of something else, especially an iceberg.Would he be able to break through the surface ice or would they ram into an ice keel extending down from the bottom of the ice pack that would rip their craft open like a mere sardine can? — 2021 •The extension of a bird's sternum to which pectoral muscles attach. •A type of flat-bottomed boat.The ladies remained at the house, while the men walked to the staith on the [River] Wear, and were shown the process of unloading the wagons into the keels by means of the coal-drop. — 1948 •The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and enclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. •The periphery of a whorl extended to form a more or less flattened plate; a prominent spiral ridge. •A broad, flat vessel used for cooling liquids; a brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat. •(Scotland) Red chalk; ruddle. verb7 •To collapse, to fall.He keeled over after having a stroke. •To traverse with a keel; to navigate. •To turn up the keel; to show the bottom. •(Scotland) To mark with ruddle. •(no longer used) To cool; make cool; to cool by stirring or skimming in order to keep from boiling over.A merrie note, / While greasie Ione doth keele the pot. — 1595 •(no longer used) To moderate the ardour or intensity of; assuage; to appease, pacify, or lessen. •(no longer used) To become cool; cool down. formskeeled · keeling · keels Phrases with keel even keelThe situation in which a watercraft is floating or proceeding in a smooth and level manner. keel overOf a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover; to capsize or turn turtle.
