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ceil

(sēl)

tr.v. ceiled, ceil·ing, ceils

1. To provide or cover with a ceiling.

2. Nautical To provide (a ship) with interior planking or lining.

[Middle English celen, probably from Old French *celer, from Latin caelāre, to carve, from caelum, chisel; see CAELUM.]

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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