Keel"er (?), n. [See 3d Keel.] 1. One employed in managing a Newcastle
keel; -- called also keelman.
2. A small or shallow tub; esp., one used for holding materials for
calking ships, or one used for washing dishes, etc.
Keel"fat` (?), n. [Keel to cool + fat a large tub, a vat.] (Brewing) A
cooler; a vat for cooling wort, etc. [Written also keelvat.] Johnson.
Keel"haul` (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Keelhauled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Keelhauling.] [3d keel + haul: cf. LG. & D. kielhalen, G. kielholen. ]
[Written also keelhale.] (Naut.) To haul under the keel of a ship, by
ropes attached to the yardarms on each side. It was formerly practiced
as a punishment in the Dutch and English navies. Totten.
Kee"ling (?), n. [Cf. Icel. keila, Sw. kolja, Dan. kulle.] (Zoöl.) A
cod.
Kee"li*vine (?), n. [Cf. Gael. cil ruddle.] A pencil of black or red
lead; -- called also keelyvine pen. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
Keel"man (?), n.; pl. - men (&?;). See Keeler, 1.
Keel"rake` (?), v. t. (Naut.) Same as Keelhaul.
Keels (?), n. pl. Ninepins. See Kayles.
Keel"son (?), n. [Akin to Sw. kölsvin, Dan. kjölsviin, G. kielschwein;
apparently compounded of the words keel and swine; but cf. Norweg.
kjölsvill, where svill is akin to E. sill, n. ] (Shipbuilding) A piece
of timber in a ship laid on the middle of the floor timbers over the
keel, and binding the floor timbers to the keel; in iron vessels, a
structure of plates, situated like the keelson of a timber ship.
Cross keelson, a similar structure lying athwart the main keelson, to
support the engines and boilers.
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Keel"vat` (kl"vt`), n. See Keelfat.
Keen (kn), a. [Compar. Keener (-r); superl. Keenest.] [OE. kene sharp,
bold, AS. cne bold; akin to D. koen, OHG. kuoni, G. kühn, OSw. kyn,
kön, Icel. kænn, for kœnn wise; perh. akin to E. ken, can to be able.
√45. ] 1. Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor,
or a razor with a keen edge.
A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene.
Chaucer.
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.
Shak.
2. Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental
acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.
To make our wits more keen.
Shak.
Before the keen inquiry of her thought.
Cowper.
3. Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen
satire or sarcasm.
Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses.
Shak.
4. Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; -- applied to cold, wind,
etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes.
Goldsmith.
5. Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite. "Of full kene will."
Piers Plowman.
So keen and greedy to confound a man.
Shak.
Keen is often used in the composition of words, most of which are of
obvious signification; as, keen-edged, keen-eyed, keen-sighted,
keen-witted, etc.
Syn. -- Prompt; eager; ardent; sharp; acute; cutting; penetrating;
biting; severe; sarcastic; satirical; piercing; shrewd.