Bilge keel

Bilge keel
Keel Keel, n. [Cf. AS. ce['o]l ship; akin to D. & G. kiel keel, OHG. chiol ship, Icel. kj[=o]ll, and perh. to Gr. gay^los a round-built Ph[oe]nician merchant vessel, gaylo`s bucket; cf. Skr. g[=o]la ball, round water vessel. But the meaning of the English word seems to come from Icel. kj["o]lr keel, akin to Sw. k["o]l, Dan. kj["o]l.] 1. (Shipbuilding) 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}. [1913 Webster]

2. Fig.: The whole ship. [1913 Webster]

3. A barge or lighter, used on the Tyne for carrying coal from Newcastle; also, a barge load of coal, twenty-one tons, four cwt. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and inclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. See {Carina}. [1913 Webster]

5. (Nat. Hist.) A projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface. [1913 Webster]

6. (Aeronautics) In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an a["e]roplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Bilge keel} (Naut.), a keel peculiar to ironclad vessels, extending only a portion of the length of the vessel under the bilges. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

{False keel}. See under {False}.

{Keel boat}. (a) A covered freight boat, with a keel, but no sails, used on Western rivers. [U. S.] (b) A low, flat-bottomed freight boat. See {Keel}, n., 3.

{Keel piece}, one of the timbers or sections of which a keel is composed.

{On even keel}, in a level or horizontal position, so that the draught of water at the stern and the bow is the same. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

{On an even keel} a. & adv., steady; balanced; steadily. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • bilge keel — n. a projecting strip of metal or wood fastened lengthwise on either side of a ship s bottom to prevent heavy rolling, damage to the bilges, etc.: also bilge chock or bilge piece …   English World dictionary

  • bilge keel — bilge′ keel n. naut. navig. a keellike projection along a ship s bilge to retard rolling • Etymology: 1840–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • Bilge keel — protection system.A bilge keel is often in a V shape, welded along the length of the ship at the turn of the bilge. Bilge keels are employed in pairs (one for each side of the ship). A ship may have more than one bilge keel per side, but this is… …   Wikipedia

  • bilge keel — noun either of two lengthwise fins attached along the outside of a ship s bilge; reduces rolling • Hypernyms: ↑keel • Part Holonyms: ↑vessel, ↑watercraft * * * noun also bilge piece : a steel plate or other …   Useful english dictionary

  • bilge keel — /ˈbɪldʒ kil/ (say bilj keel) noun either of two keel like projections extending lengthwise along a ship s bilge, one on each side, to retard rolling. Also, bilge piece …  

  • bilge keel — Naut. either of two keellike projections extending lengthwise along a ship s bilge, one on each side, to retard rolling. Also called bilge piece. [1840 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • bilge keel — noun Date: 1850 a projection like a fin extending from the hull near the turn of the bilge on either side to check rolling …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bilge keel — A long longitudinal fin fitted on the curved of a ship at the turn of the bilge to reduce rolling …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • bilge keel — noun a strake, or small keel or blister, running along much of the length of the hull. It is used to reduce the hulls tendency to roll. They are typically fitted one on each side, low down on the side of the hull, so as not to increase the draft… …   Wiktionary

  • bilge keel — noun each of a pair of plates or timbers fastened under the sides of the hull of a ship to prevent rolling and support its weight in dry dock …   English new terms dictionary

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