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keel·son

(kēlsən, kĕl-) also kel·son (kĕl-)

n.
Nautical

A timber or girder fastened above and parallel to the keel of a ship or boat for additional strength.

[Alteration (influenced by KEEL¹) of Middle English kelswin, probably from Old Norse *kjölsvīn : kjölr, keel + svīn, swine, timber; see sū- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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