EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

keel

the structural beam running along the base of a ship's hull

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "keel" come from? It comes from Old Norse kjolr, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "keel" come from? It comes from Old Norse kjolr, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Keel’s story begins in Old Norse: kjolr meant “a ship's central beam.” The central structural beam running along the base of a ship. It reached English by 1300s as keel. Settled as the English word for the structural spine of a ship's hull. Today, keel means the structural beam running along the base of a ship's hull.

  1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval kjolr "a ship's central beam", the central structural beam running along the base of a ship.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s keel "the structural spine along the base of a ship's hull", settled as the English word for the structural spine of a ship's hull.

Browse by origin