Part 492

4. (Bot.) 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.) A projecting ridge along the middle of a flat or curved surface.

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.

Keel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Keeled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Keeling.] 1. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

2. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

To keel over, to upset; to capsize. [Colloq.]

Keel"age (?), n. [Cf. F. guillage, fr. guille keel; of German or Scand origin. See 3d Keel.] The right of demanding a duty or toll for a ship entering a port; also, the duty or toll. Bouvier. Wharton.

Keeled (?), a. 1. (Bot.) Keel-shaped; having a longitudinal prominence on the back; as, a keeled leaf.

2. (Zoöl.) Having a median ridge; carinate; as, a keeled scale.

Keel"er (?), n. [See 3d Keel.] 1. One employed in managing a Newcastle keel; -- called also keelman.

2. A small or shallow tub; esp., one used for holding materials for calking ships, or one used for washing dishes, etc.

Keel"fat` (?), n. [Keel to cool + fat a large tub, a vat.] (Brewing) A cooler; a vat for cooling wort, etc. [Written also keelvat.] Johnson.

Keel"haul` (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Keelhauled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Keelhauling.] [3d keel + haul: cf. LG. & D. kielhalen, G. kielholen. ] [Written also keelhale.] (Naut.) To haul under the keel of a ship, by ropes attached to the yardarms on each side. It was formerly practiced as a punishment in the Dutch and English navies. Totten.

Kee"ling (?), n. [Cf. Icel. keila, Sw. kolja, Dan. kulle.] (Zoöl.) A cod.

Kee"li*vine (?), n. [Cf. Gael. cil ruddle.] A pencil of black or red lead; -- called also keelyvine pen. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Keel"man (?), n.; pl. - men (&?;). See Keeler, 1.

Keel"rake` (?), v. t. (Naut.) Same as Keelhaul.

Keels (?), n. pl. Ninepins. See Kayles.

Keel"son (?), n. [Akin to Sw. kölsvin, Dan. kjölsviin, G. kielschwein; apparently compounded of the words keel and swine; but cf. Norweg. kjölsvill, where svill is akin to E. sill, n. ] (Shipbuilding) A piece of timber in a ship laid on the middle of the floor timbers over the keel, and binding the floor timbers to the keel; in iron vessels, a structure of plates, situated like the keelson of a timber ship.

Cross keelson, a similar structure lying athwart the main keelson, to support the engines and boilers.

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Keel"vat` (kl"vt`), n. See Keelfat.

Keen (kn), a. [Compar. Keener (-r); superl. Keenest.] [OE. kene sharp, bold, AS. cne bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. kühn, OSw. kyn, kön, Icel. kænn, for kœnn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able. &radic;45. ] 1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.

A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene.

Chaucer.

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.

Shak.

2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.