[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

keel \keel\, n. cf. as. ce'ol ship; akin to d.  g. kiel
   keel, ohg. chiol ship, icel. kj=oll, and perh. to gr.
   gay^los a round-built phoenician merchant vessel, gaylo`s
   bucket; cf. skr. g=ola ball, round water vessel. but the
   meaning of the english word seems to come from icel. kj"olr
   keel, akin to sw. k"ol, dan. kj"ol.
   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"eroplane, 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
see also:
keelson carina bilge keel false keel false keel boat 
keel keel piece on even keel on an even keel 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

even \e"ven\, a. as. efen. efn; akin to os. eban, d. even, ohg.
   eban, g. efen, icel. jafn, dan. jevn, sw. jaummn, 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
see also:
anent ebb on even ground on even keel 

Even >> E Words
Even, definition of term: Even
even_pag1.html

Even Though >> E Words
Even Though, definition of term: Even Though
even+though_pag1.html

Break Even >> B Words
Break Even, definition of term: Break Even
break+even_pag1.html