keel
keel1 / kēl/ • n. the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessel’s hull, on which the rest of the hull is built, in some vessels extended downward as a blade or ridge to increase stability. ∎ Zool. a ridge along the breastbone of many birds to which the flight muscles are attached; the carina. ∎ Bot. a prow-shaped pair of petals present in flowers of the pea family.• v. [intr.] (keel over) inf. (of a person or thing) fall over; collapse.DERIVATIVES: keeled adj. [in comb.] a deep-keeled yacht. keel2 • n. Brit. a flat-bottomed freight boat; a keelboat.
keel
keel. Common First and Second Pointed moulding on vault-ribs and elsewhere, resembling the keel of a ship, in section consisting of two ogees or convex curves meeting at an arris, and sometimes at a fillet. Some authorities hold that a keel-moulding consists of two curves meeting at an arris rather than a fillet.
keel
keel
1. (carina) An external, longitudinal ridge situated on the venter of an ammonoid (Ammonoidea).
2. In flying birds, a ridge projecting forward from the sternum and serving for the attachment of the enlarged pectoral muscles.
keel
keel1 lowest longitudinal timber (or iron plating) of a ship XIV; (nat. hist.) central ridge XVI. ME. kele — ON. kjǫlr :- Gmc *keluz.
So keelhaul, keelhale XVII. — Du. kielhalen. See HALE2.
keel
keel
1. (carina) A cup-like petal (e.g. in Pisum flowers) formed by the fusion of two petals.
2. Any structure resembling a ridge, or the keel of a boat.
keel
keel2 flat-bottomed vessel, lighter. XIV. ME. kele — MLG. kēl, MDu. kiel ship, boat = OE. ċēol, OS., OHG. kiol (Du., G. kiel), ON. kjóll :- Gmc. * keulaz.