keel

1. 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 projectionb :  ship

2. 2 :  a projection suggesting the keel of a boat or ship; especially :  an anatomical process forming a ridge :  carina

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

chiefly dialectal

1. :  cool

chiefly dialectal

1. :  red ocher

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

1. :  acute septicemic salmonellosis or paratyphoid of ducklings marked by sudden collapse and death of apparently healthy birds—called also keel disease