keel

verb (1)

\ ˈkēl

How to pronounce keel (audio)

\

keeled; keeling; keels

Definition of keel

(Entry 1 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to fall in or as if in a faint —usually used with over keeled over from exhaustion

2 of a boat or ship : to heel or lean precariously

keel

noun (1)

Definition of keel (Entry 2 of 5)

1a : 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 the keel of a boat or ship: such as

a : an anatomical process forming a ridge (as on the sternum of a bird) : carina sense 1

b botany : the lower part of a papilionaceous flower (as of a pea or bean plant) that consists of two fused petals, lies between the wings (see wing sense 2e(2)), and encloses the pistil and stamens The keel, the lowest petal of the pea-like flower, is short and rounded.— Sylvan T. Runkel and Dean M. Roose

keel

noun (2)

Definition of keel (Entry 3 of 5)

: a flat-bottomed barge used especially on the Tyne to carry coal

keel

verb (2)

keeled; keeling; keels

Definition of keel (Entry 4 of 5)

chiefly dialectal

: cool

keel

noun (3)

Definition of keel (Entry 5 of 5)

chiefly dialectal

: red ocher

Other Words from keel Phrases Containing keel Learn More About keel

First Known Use of keel

Verb (1)

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for keel

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English kele, from Middle Dutch kiel; akin to Old English cēol ship

Verb (2)

Middle English kelen, from Old English cēlan, from cōl cool

Noun (3)

Middle English (Scots) keyle

Learn More About keel

Dictionary Entries Near keel

keekwilee-house

keel

Statistics for keel

Cite this Entry

“Keel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keel. Accessed 24 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for keel

keel

noun

\ ˈkēl

\

Kids Definition of keel

: a long heavy piece of wood or metal that runs along and usually sticks out from the center of the bottom of a ship

keel

noun

\ ˈkēl

\

Medical Definition of keel

: acute septicemic salmonellosis or paratyphoid of ducklings marked by sudden collapse and death of apparently healthy birds

— called also keel disease

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