keel

plural keels

1. nauticalA large beam along the underside of a ship’s hull from bow to stern.

   I hear the noise about thy keel; ⁠I hear the bell struck in the night: ⁠I see the cabin-window bright; I see the sailor at the wheel.

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto X”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

2. nauticalA rigid, flat piece of material anchored to the lowest part of the hull of a ship to give it greater control and stability.
3. aeronauticsIn a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aeroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course.
4. broadlyThe rigid bottom part of something else, especially an iceberg.

   Would he be able to break through the surface ice or would they ram into an ice keel extending down from the bottom of the ice pack that would rip their craft open like a mere sardine can?

   2021 September 30, Kenneth Andrus, Arctic Menace, Babylon Books, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   The most important ice features are the frequency and extent of downward projections (bummocks and ice keels) from the underside of the ice canopy (pack ice and enclosed water areas from the point of view of the submariner)[…]

   1975, Nathaniel Bowditch, American Practical Navigator: An Epitome of Navigation, page 834

   Bill Roggensack, EBA Engineering Ltd.: So at the end of this particular simulation, presumably the keel of the iceberg is in contact with the seabed? / Chris Woodworth-Lynas: It is just in contact with the seabed.

   1986, Environmental Studies Revolving Funds (Canada); C. F. M. Lewis; Federal Panel on Energy Research and Development (Canada); Gulf Canada Resources Inc; Ice Scour Workshop (1985 : Calgary, Alta.), Ice Scour and Seabed Engineering: Proceedings of a Workshop on Ice Scour Research

5. nauticalA type of flat-bottomed boat.

   The ladies remained at the house, while the men walked to the staith on the [River] Wear, and were shown the process of unloading the wagons into the keels by means of the coal-drop.

   1948 January and February, “Notes and News: Duke of Wellington's Early Railway Journey”, in Railway Magazine, page 56

6. biologyThe periphery of a whorl extended to form a more or less flattened plate; a prominent spiral ridge.

   1 more example

   Metanotum shining, indistinctly punctured at the base in the centre, the sides closely punctured; the areola large, obliquely narrowed at the base, its apex open, there are 2 lateral areas, both widely open at the base on the outerside; the posterior median area bears about 10 stout, transverse keels; on its apical outerside is a triangular area; the spiracular is bounded on the outerside by a distinct keel.

   1906, Records of the Albany Museum - Volume 1, page 314

7. biologyThe two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and enclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina.

   Vegetatively it is the nearest to H. translucens with its oblong-lanceolate leaves, with the margins and keel beset with pellucid teeth, but it differs and is characterised by the greyish-black quadrantly positioned globose flowers; […]

   1985, Charles L. Scott, The Genus Haworthia (Liliaceae): A Taxonomic Revision, page 80

8. biologyThe extension of a bird's sternum to which pectoral muscles attach.

   Synonyms: carina

present singular third person keels · participle present keeling · participle past keeled · past keeled

1. intransitiveTo collapse, to fall.

   He keeled over after having a stroke.

2. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.
3. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

present singular third person keels · participle present keeling · participle past keeled · past keeled

1. obsoletetransitiveTo cool; make cool; to cool by stirring or skimming in order to keep from boiling over.

   A merrie note, / While greaſie Ione doth keele the pot.

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature K2, verso

2. obsoletetransitiveTo moderate the ardour or intensity of; assuage; to appease, pacify, or lessen.
3. intransitiveobsoleteTo become cool; cool down.

plural keels

1. beveragesA broad, flat vessel used for cooling liquids; a brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

1. ScotlandRed chalk; ruddle.

present singular third person keels · participle present keeling · participle past keeled · past keeled

1. ScotlandtransitiveTo mark with ruddle.

present singular third person keels · participle present keeling · participle past keeled · past keeled

1. humorousnonstandardpronunciation spellingPronunciation spelling of kill.