What Does The Word “Keel” Mean?
The word ‘keel’ is a nautical term, referring to the main structural part of a ship which runs lengthwise along the middle line from the bow up to the stern, to which the frames are connected. It is also used to denote parts of a bird’s as well as an aircraft’s body, that part which resembles the keel of a ship. Keel may refer to either of the two divisions of a boat or a ship, a structural part or a hydrodynamic part. Structural keels are big beams surrounding which the hull of a ship is constructed. A Hydrodynamic keel is a type of foil which serves to provide greater control and steadiness in terms of direction. In sailboats, keels serve to shift the movement of the boat to produce lift to oppose tangential force from the sails.
