On even keel

On even 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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Look at other dictionaries:

  • even keel — If something is on an even keel, it is balanced …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • even keel —    A situation or person who stays on an even keel manages to remain calm, stable and untroubled in all circumstances.     She managed to keep her life on an even keel in spite of the difficulties …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • even keel — A ship at even keel is when the keel is horizontal …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • even keel — See keep an even keel …   English idioms

  • Even keel —   If something is on an even keel, it is balanced …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • even keel —  Balanced, steady.  ► “Dunkin’ Donuts was founded by Rosenberg’s father, and the younger Rosenberg spent his summer vacations as a boy working in the business. Bob Rosenberg earns respect through his soft spoken, even keel manner, which is the… …   American business jargon

  • On even keel — Even E ven, a. [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban, G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. j[ a]mn, Goth. ibns. Cf. {Anent}, {Ebb}.] 1. Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from irregularities; hence uniform in rate… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • on even keel — phrasal or on an even keel 1. of a ship a. : having approximately the same draft forward and aft; sometimes : having the load water line of the ship parallel to the surface of the water (as in a ship whose natural draft is much greater aft than… …   Useful english dictionary

  • on even keel — phrasal see on an even keel …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • an even keel — good balance, stability    We need a steady manager, one who can keep an even keel …   English idioms

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