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Full-text Search for "on even keel"
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on even keel definitions
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Merriam Webster's
phrasal see on an even keel
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
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.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
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.
