keel

views updated Jun 27 2018

keel1 / kēl/ • n. the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessel’s hull, on which the rest of the hull is built, in some vessels extended downward as a blade or ridge to increase stability. ∎ Zool. a ridge along the breastbone of many birds to which the flight muscles are attached; the carina. ∎  Bot. a prow-shaped pair of petals present in flowers of the pea family.• v. [intr.] (keel over) inf. (of a person or thing) fall over; collapse.DERIVATIVES: keeled adj. [in comb.] a deep-keeled yacht. keel2 • n. Brit. a flat-bottomed freight boat; a keelboat.

keel

views updated May 21 2018

keel. Common First and Second Pointed moulding on vault-ribs and elsewhere, resembling the keel of a ship, in section consisting of two ogees or convex curves meeting at an arris, and sometimes at a fillet. Some authorities hold that a keel-moulding consists of two curves meeting at an arris rather than a fillet.

keel

views updated May 08 2018

keel
1. (carina) An external, longitudinal ridge situated on the venter of an ammonoid (Ammonoidea).

2. In flying birds, a ridge projecting forward from the sternum and serving for the attachment of the enlarged pectoral muscles.

keel

views updated May 21 2018

keel1 lowest longitudinal timber (or iron plating) of a ship XIV; (nat. hist.) central ridge XVI. ME. kele — ON. kjǫlr :- Gmc *keluz.
So keelhaul, keelhale XVII. — Du. kielhalen. See HALE2.

keel

views updated Jun 27 2018

keel
1. (carina) A cup-like petal (e.g. in Pisum flowers) formed by the fusion of two petals.

2. Any structure resembling a ridge, or the keel of a boat.

keel

views updated May 29 2018

keel2 flat-bottomed vessel, lighter. XIV. ME. kele — MLG. kēl, MDu. kiel ship, boat = OE. ċēol, OS., OHG. kiol (Du., G. kiel), ON. kjóll :- Gmc. * keulaz.

keel

views updated May 23 2018

keel (carina) The projection of bone from the sternum (breastbone) of a bird or bat, to which the powerful flight muscles are attached. The sterna of flightless birds (e.g. ostrich and emu) lack keels.

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