keel

[ keel ]

/ kil /

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noun

Nautical. a central fore-and-aft structural member in the bottom of a hull, extending from the stem to the sternpost and having the floors or frames attached to it, usually at right angles: sometimes projecting from the bottom of the hull to provide stability.

Literary. a ship or boat.

a part corresponding to a ship's keel in some other structure, as in a dirigible balloon.

Keel, Astronomy. the constellation Carina.

Botany, Zoology. a longitudinal ridge, as on a leaf or bone; a carina.

Also called brace molding. Architecture. a projecting molding the profile of which consists of two ogees symmetrically disposed about an arris or fillet.

verb (used with or without object)

to turn or upset so as to bring the wrong side or part uppermost.

Verb Phrases

keel over,

to capsize or overturn.
to fall as in a faint: Several cadets keeled over from the heat during the parade.

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Idioms about keel

on an even keel, in a state of balance; steady; steadily: The affairs of state are seldom on an even keel for long.

Origin of keel

First recorded in 1325–75; 1895–1900 for def. 8; Middle English kele, from Old Norse kjǫlr; cognate with Old English cēol “keel, ship”; see keel²

OTHER WORDS FROM keel

keeled, adjective

Other definitions for keel (2 of 4)

keel²

[ keel ]

/ kil /

noun British Dialect.

keelboat.

the amount of coal carried by one keelboat.

a measure of coal equivalent to 21 long tons and 4 hundredweight (21.5 metric tons).

Origin of keel

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English kele, from Middle Dutch kiel “ship”; cognate with Old English cēol “ship,” German kiel “ship” (obsolete); see keel¹

Other definitions for keel (3 of 4)

keel³

[ keel ]

/ kil /

verb (used with object) British Dialect.

to cool, especially by stirring.

Origin of keel

First recorded before 900; Middle English kelen, Old English cēlan “to be cool”; akin to cool

Other definitions for keel (4 of 4)

keel⁴

[ keel ]

/ kil /

noun

a red ocher stain used for marking sheep, lumber, etc.; ruddle.

Origin of keel

⁴

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier keyle (north and Scots dialect); compare Scots Gaelic cìl (itself perhaps from English )

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use keel in a sentence

Bryant’s even-keeled court awareness led to the go-ahead dunk in the final, frantic seconds of the Wizards’ win over Brooklyn on Sunday.
Thomas Bryant is making the leap by controlling his emotions. Westbrook and Beal help, too.|Ava Wallace|January 6, 2021|Washington Post
Our research revealed a lag between the formation of Earth’s first crust and the development of the mantle keels at the base of the first continents.
After 1.5 Billion Years in Flux, Here’s How a New, Stronger Crust Set the Stage for Life on Earth|Fabio A Capitanio|December 3, 2020|Singularity Hub
As Miles grows into the shoes of being his own kind of Spider-Man, he’ll see a couple of his relationships tested, but he is able to remain remarkably sunny and even-keeled throughout.
‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales’: Like its movie counterparts, a confident and entertaining spectacle|Christopher Byrd|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
Here are six ways caregivers and educators can frame and use this moment to help kids develop core values, think critically, maintain an even keel and act with agency.
Six ways adults can help children make sense of a divisive election|Phyllis Fagell|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

He was very even-keeled, goofy and liked to play basketball.
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC|M.L. Nestel|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, for the most part, the major speakers stayed even keeled and non hysterical.
CPAC: Come for the Crazy, Stay for the Party|Michelle Cottle|March 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The clip opens on a grim scene: we see a Miami cop standing attention, and a miserable civilian keeled over in a chair.
Watch Justin Bieber Try to Walk in a Straight Line After His DUI Arrest|Amy Zimmerman|February 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The more even-keeled bloggers and pundits were asking, “Is it possible to separate the art from the artist?”
The Woody Allen Allegations: Not So Fast|Robert B. Weide|January 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pressure was all too much for one soldier in Norway today, who keeled over as Charles surveyed the ranks.
Fall Out! Soldier Faints As Prince Charles Inspects Guard of Honour in Oslo|Tom Sykes|March 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The man threw out his hands and keeled over like a stuck pig.
The Highgrader|William MacLeod Raine
When the birds keeled over, they could tell it was time for humans to start looking over the air systems!
The Colors of Space|Marion Zimmer Bradley
The startled hawk jerked, keeled, lifted with a violent struggle, and let go her hold.
Roof and Meadow|Dallas Lore Sharp
The mate undertook to drive her one day when the skipper was below, “keeled over” by an unusually stiff bout with the bottle.
The Viking Blood|Frederick William Wallace
"I must 'a' had failure o' the heart and just keeled over," explained Morgan, still grinning amiably.
To Him That Hath|Leroy Scott

British Dictionary definitions for keel (1 of 5)

keel¹

/ (kiːl) /

noun

one of the main longitudinal structural members of a vessel to which the frames are fastened and that may extend into the water to provide lateral stability

on an even keel well-balanced; steady

any structure corresponding to or resembling the keel of a ship, such as the central member along the bottom of an aircraft fuselage

biology a ridgelike part; carina

a poetic word for ship

verb

to capsize

Derived forms of keel

keel-less, adjective

Word Origin for keel

C14: from Old Norse kjölr; related to Middle Dutch kiel, keel ²

British Dictionary definitions for keel (2 of 5)

keel²

/ (kiːl) /

noun Eastern British dialect

a flat-bottomed vessel, esp one used for carrying coal

a measure of coal equal to about 21 tons

Word Origin for keel

C14 kele, from Middle Dutch kiel; compare Old English cēol ship

British Dictionary definitions for keel (3 of 5)

keel³

/ (kiːl) /

noun

red ochre stain used for marking sheep, timber, etc

verb (tr)

to mark with this stain

Word Origin for keel

Old English cēlan, from cōl cool

British Dictionary definitions for keel (4 of 5)

keel⁴

/ (kiːl) /

verb

an archaic word for cool

Word Origin for keel

C15: probably from Scottish Gaelic cīl

British Dictionary definitions for keel (5 of 5)

keel⁵

/ (kiːl) /

noun

a fatal disease of young ducks, characterized by intestinal bleeding caused by Salmonella bacteria

Word Origin for keel

C19: from keel 1; see keel over

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with keel

keel

In addition to the idiom beginning with keel

keel over

also see:

on an even keel

keel

Idioms about keel

Origin of keel

OTHER WORDS FROM keel

Other definitions for keel (2 of 4)

Origin of keel

Other definitions for keel (3 of 4)

Origin of keel

Other definitions for keel (4 of 4)

Origin of keel

Words related to keel

How to use keel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for keel (1 of 5)

Derived forms of keel

Word Origin for keel

British Dictionary definitions for keel (2 of 5)

Word Origin for keel

British Dictionary definitions for keel (3 of 5)

Word Origin for keel

British Dictionary definitions for keel (4 of 5)

Word Origin for keel

British Dictionary definitions for keel (5 of 5)

Word Origin for keel

Other Idioms and Phrases with keel