KEEL
Keel, n.
Defn: A brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.
KEEL Keel, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. ceól ship; akin to D. & G. kiel keel, OHG. chiol ship, Icel. kj, and perh. to Gr. gla ball, round water vessel. But the meaning of the English word seems to come from Icel. kjölr keel, akin to Sw. köl, Dan. kjöl.]
1. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A longitudinal timber, or series of timbers scarfed together, extending from stem to stern along the bottom of a vessel. It is the principal timber of the vessel, and, by means of the ribs attached on each side, supports the vessel's frame. In an iron vessel, a combination of plates supplies the place of the keel of a wooden ship. See Illust. of Keelson.
2. Fig.: The whole ship.
3. A barge or lighter, used on the Type for carrying coal from Newcastle; also, a barge load of coal, twentyone tons, four cwt. [Eng.]
4. (Bot.)
Defn: The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and inclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. See Carina.
5. (Nat. Hist.)