Main Entry:

³keel

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English kele, from Old Norse kjǫlr; akin to Old English ceole throat, beak of a ship — more at glutton

Date:

14th century

1 a: the chief structural member of a boat or ship that extends longitudinally along the center of its bottom and that often projects from the bottom ; also : this projection b: ship2: a projection suggesting a keel ; especially : carina 1

— keeled \ˈkēld\ adjective

— keel·less \ˈkēl-ləs\ adjective