KEEL, k[=e]l, _n._ (_Scot._) red chalk, ruddle.--_v.t._ to mark with
ruddle. [Prob. Gael. _cil_, ruddle.]
KEELIE, k[=e]'li, _n._ (_Scot._) the kestrel: a street Arab or young rough.
[Imit.]
KEELING, k[=e]'ling, _n._ (_Scot._) a codfish.
KEELIVINE, k[=e]'li-v[=i]n, _n._ (_Scot._) a lead pencil.--Also KEE'LYVINE.
[See _keel_, ruddle; ety. dub.]
[Illustration]
KEELSON, KELSON, kel'sun, _n._ an inner keel placed right over the outer
keel of a ship, and securely fastened thereto. [Sw. _kölsvin_, Norw.
_kjölsvill_, the latter syllable=Ger. _schwelle_, Eng. _sill_.]
KEEN, k[=e]n, _adj._ eager: sharp, having a fine edge: piercing: acute of
mind: penetrating: intense.--_adv._ KEEN'LY.--_n._ KEEN'NESS. [A.S. _céne_;
Ger. _kühn_, bold; Ice. _kænn_, wise. Cog. with _ken_ and _can_.]
KEEN, k[=e]n, _n._ a lamentation over the dead.--_v.i._ to wail over the
dead.--_n._ KEEN'ER, a professional mourner. [Ir. _caoine_.]
KEEP, k[=e]p, _v.t._ to have the care of: to guard: to maintain: to manage:
to have in one's service: to hold for one's own use or enjoyment: to remain
in: to adhere to: to practise: not to lose: to maintain hold upon: to
restrain from departure: to preserve in a certain state: to maintain: to
fulfill.--_v.i._ to remain in any position or state: to remain fresh: to
last or endure: to continue: to adhere: to have rooms at college
(Cambridge):---_pr.p._ keep'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ kept.--_n._ that which
keeps or protects: subsistence: food: the innermost and strongest part of a
castle, the donjon: a stronghold.--_ns._ KEEP'ER, an attendant, manager,
owner: a gamekeeper: socket, guard-ring; KEEP'ERSHIP, office of a keeper;
KEEP'ING, care: custody: charge: (_Shak._) maintenance, support: just
proportion, harmony: (_paint._) due proportion of light and shade;
KEEP'ING-ROOM, a sitting-room, parlour; KEEP'SAKE, something given to be
kept for the sake of the giver--the name used often to be applied to the
annuals or sumptuous gift-books so much in vogue about 1830.--KEEP AN ACT,
to hold an academical disputation; KEEP AN EYE ON, KEEP COMPANY, CHAPEL,
COUNSEL, DISTANCE, HOURS, HOUSE, THE PEACE, &c. (see the nouns); KEEP A
TERM (see TERM); KEEP AT IT, to persist in anything; KEEP BACK, to
withhold: keep down, to repress (see also DARK); KEEP BODY AND SOUL
TOGETHER, to maintain life; KEEP DOWN, to restrain; KEEP FROM, to abstain
from: to remain away from; KEEP GOING IN a thing, to keep one supplied with
it; KEEP IN, to prevent from escaping: to confine a pupil in the schoolroom
after school hours: to conceal: to restrain; KEEP IN WITH, to maintain the
confidence or friendship of some one; KEEP OFF, to hinder from approaching
or making an attack; KEEP ONE'S COUNTENANCE, to preserve a calm appearance,
hiding one's emotions; KEEP ONE'S HAND IN, to retain one's skill by means
of constant practice; KEEP THE BREATH TO COOL ONE'S PORRIDGE, to confine
attention to one's own affairs; KEEP THE POWDER DRY, to keep one's energies
ready for action; KEEP TO, to stick closely to: to confine one's self to;
KEEP UNDER, to hold down in restraint; KEEP UP, to retain one's strength or
spirit: to support, prevent from falling: to continue, to prevent from
ceasing: to maintain in good condition. [A.S. _cépan_, orig. to traffic,
hence to store up, keep--_ceáp_, price.]