keel

pronunciation

How to pronounce keel in British English: UK [ki:l] word uk audio image

How to pronounce keel in American English: US [kil] word us audio image

Noun:

the median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly
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:

walk as if unable to control one's movements

Word Origin

keel (n.): "lowest timber of a ship or boat," mid-14c., probably from a Scandinavian source (compare Old Norse kjölr "keel," Danish kjøl, Swedish köl), from Proto-Germanic *keluz, of uncertain origin. Some etymologists say this is unconnected with the keel that means "a ship, barge," which also is the root of Middle Dutch kiel "ship," Old English ceol "ship's prow," Old High German kiel, German Kiel "ship," but the two words have influenced each other. Barnhart, however, calls them cognates. Keel still is used locally in England and U.S. for "flat-bottomed boat," especially on the Tyne.

keel (v.2): "to keep cool," from Middle English kelen, from Old English celan "to cool," from col "cool" (see cool). The form kele (from Old English colian) was used by Shakespeare, but it later was assimilated with the adjective form into the modern verb cool. Cognate with Dutch koelen, Old High German chuolen, German kühlen.

keel (v.1): 1838, American English, from keel (n.). To keel over (1876) is from the nautical image of a ship turning keel-up. Related: Keeled; keeling.

1. A system used in some trailerable sailboats without a weighted fixed keel .

2. After reviewing the wheel designs so far , we 're going for a simple v-shaped keel .

3. But there is a wide range of boats from 12 to about 25 feet with either a fixed keel or a centerboard .

4. If you decide a fixed keel boat is best for your sailing purposes , consider also which type keel best meets your needs .

5. All sailboats need a keel of board for this reason : the narrow , flat surface of the board or keel produces little drag when the boat moves forward but resists motion sideways .