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 : ship
2 : a projection suggesting a keel; especially : carina 1

— keeled \ˈkēld\ adjective

— keel·less \ˈkēl-ləs\ adjective