'On even keel' definitions:

Definition of 'On even keel'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Definition of 'On even keel'

From: GCIDE
  • Even \E"ven\, a. [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban, G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. j[aum]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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Equable; not easily ruffled or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-possessed; as, an even temper. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit. [1913 Webster]
  • And shall lay thee even with the ground. --Luke xix. 44. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Balanced; adjusted; fair; equitable; impartial; just to both sides; owing nothing on either side; -- said of accounts, bargains, or persons indebted; as, our accounts are even; an even bargain. [1913 Webster]
  • To make the even truth in pleasure flow. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure. "I know my life so even." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obs.] "His even servant." --Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 29). [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder; -- said of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers. [1913 Webster]
  • Whether the number of the stars is even or odd. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
  • On even ground, with equal advantage.
  • On even keel (Naut.), in a level or horizontal position. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'On even keel'