Link Centre Dictionary

keel

UK/kiːl/ US/ˈkil/ uncommon obsolete
noun (2) verb (1)

noun

1.

the median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly

2.

one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability

verb

1.

walk as if unable to control one''s movements

  • “The drunken man staggered into the room”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English kelen, from Old English cēlan (“to cool, to make or become cool”), from Proto-West Germanic *kōlijan, from Proto-Germanic *kōlijaną (“to cool”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian käile, köile (“to cool”), Dutch koelen (“to cool”), German Low German köhlen (“to cool”), German kühlen (“to cool”), Danish køle (“to cool”), Icelandic kæla (“to cool”).

Phrases

  • bilge keel
  • caudal keel
  • even keel
  • false keel
  • fin keel
  • keel arch
  • keel over
  • keel-jawed needlefish
  • off keel

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.