资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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}.
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, twenty-one
tons, four cwt. [Eng.]
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.
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 of motion of action;
as, even ground; an even speed; an even course of conduct.
2. Equable; not easily ruffed or disturbed; calm; uniformly
self-possessed; as, an even temper.
3. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
And shall lay thee even with the ground. --Luke xix.
44.
4. Balanced; adjusted; fair; equitable; impartial; just to
both side; owing nothing on either side; -- said of
accounts, bargains, or persons indebted; as, our accounts
are even; an even bargain.
To make the even truth in pleasure flow. --Shak.
5. Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure. ``I know
my life so even.'' --Shak.
6. Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obs.] ``His
even servant.'' --Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 29).
7. Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder;
-- said of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers.
Whether the number of the stars is even or odd.
--Jer. Taylor.
{On even ground}, with equal advantage.
{On even keel} (Naut.), in a level or horizontal position.