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Glite Dictionary
bilge keel

bilge keel

9.9
A long narrow fin on a ship's hull that reduces rolling
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : quille de estabilización
  • The bilge keel helps stabilize the ship by minimizing its rolling during rough seas.

Examples

  • The crew inspected the bilge keel to ensure it was securely attached to the hull.

  • To improve handling, the yacht was fitted with a wider bilge keel for better stability.

  • Most of them were dashed against the bilge keel and fell crippled into the sea.

  • Most of them were dashed against the bilge keel and fell crippled into the sea.

How Stable

keel
  • Specialized
6 7.4
fin keel
  • Specialized
7.9
bilge keel
  • Specialized
9.9
centerboard
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Surface Forms

bilge keel singular
bilge keels plural

Morphology

bilge + keel

The compound clearly links 'bilge' (the low area of a ship) with 'keel' (a longitudinal plate), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a keel-like structure associated with the bilge. However, the specific shape (paired narrow fins fitted externally) and the technical function of reducing rolling are specialized details not fully predictable from the constituents, making the transparency only partial.

Etymology

Bilge keel names a long, thin fin attached along a ship's hull; bilge is the lower side where the bottom meets the side and keel means a fin. The fin works like a small wing in the water and stops the ship from rocking side to side, so a bilge keel is used to 'reduce rolling'.