noun Uncommon

keel

Keel (noun) means the main structural beam running along the bottom of a ship's hull, from front to back. Example: “The keel was laid before the rest of the hull took shape.”

noun

The main structural beam running along the bottom of a ship's hull, from front to back.

"The keel was laid before the rest of the hull took shape."

"Barnacles had built up along the ship's keel."

A fin-like blade fixed under a sailboat to stop it sliding sideways and to help it stay upright.

"A deep keel makes the yacht harder to capsize."

verb

To capsize or roll over, keel side up (usually as "keel over").

"The dinghy keeled over in the sudden gust."

How to use keel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe backbone beam or fin along the bottom of a boat that keeps it stable and steady in the water.

Common mistake

"Keel over" (collapse or capsize) is the common idiom people actually use day to day, more than the noun itself.

Common pairings

keel over lay the keel deep keel

Word forms

keeled past tense, keeled past tense, keeled past tense, keels plural, keels plural, keels singular, keels singular, keels singular

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The _____ was laid before the rest of the hull took shape.

Etymology

From Old Norse kjǫlr, referring to a ship's spine-like base timber.

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

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reel swag lurch stagger careen

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Rhymes for keel

eel heel feel peel reel Neel kneel wheel steel creel genteel newsreel

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Frequently asked questions

What does “keel” mean?

The word “keel” means the main structural beam running along the bottom of a ship's hull, from front to back. In plain terms, the backbone beam or fin along the bottom of a boat that keeps it stable and steady in the water.

How do you pronounce “keel”?

“Keel” is pronounced keel (/kiːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “keel” in a sentence?

Here is “keel” used in a sentence: “The keel was laid before the rest of the hull took shape.”

What part of speech is “keel”?

Depending on how it is used, “keel” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “keel” come from?

The word “keel” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse kjǫlr, referring to a ship's spine-like base timber.

Is “keel” a common word?

“Keel” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “keel” have?

“Keel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the main structural beam running along the bottom of a ship's hull, from front to back.

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Words with old Norse origins Words that start with K

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