keelson

American  

[kel-suhn, keel-] / ˈkɛl sən, ˈkil- /

Also kelson

noun

Nautical.

1. any of various fore-and-aft structural members lying above or parallel to the keel in the bottom of a hull.

---

keelson British  

/ ˈkɛlsən, ˈkiːl- /

noun

1. a longitudinal beam fastened to the keel of a vessel for strength and stiffness

---

Etymology

Origin of keelson

1605–15; < Low German kielswin literally, “keel swine” (sense relation obscure) < Scandinavian; compare Dutch kolsvijn, Danish kølsvin, Swedish kölsvin

Example Sentences

Workers are replacing the hull’s below-water outer planking and its framing, the riblike parts of the boat that extend out from the keelson, the backbone of the ship.

From New York Times

Keel, keelson, longitudinals and inner and outer bottoms, were of a weight, size and thickness exceeding those of any previous ship.

From Scientific American

The transoms, knees, beams, keelson, and other chief timbers used for connecting and strengthening the parts of a vessel.

From Project Gutenberg

The guns were run out, and the Golden Hope quivered from truck to keelson with the roar of her ordnance.

From Project Gutenberg

These craft are hopper-bottomed and fitted with band conveyors of the ordinary type, running between the double keelson of the lighter and delivering into an elevator erected at the stern of the lighter.

From Project Gutenberg