drop keel
- noun
- /drɒp kiːl/
- Specialized
:
quilla retráctil
- Sailors lowered the drop keel to improve the boat's stability in strong winds.
Examples
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The yacht was equipped with a drop keel that allowed her to navigate shallow waters easily.
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Many racing yachts use a drop keel for better stability.
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Maintenance on the drop keel is essential to ensure it functions smoothly during races.
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The sailboat is equipped with a drop keel.
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To enhance performance, the crew carefully inspected the drop keel before the regatta.
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When sailing in choppy waters, it's crucial to lower the drop keel for improved control.
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The design of the drop keel helps the sailboat maintain its course against strong currents.
Synonyms
1
7.4
A flat board lowered into the water under a sailboat to stop it drifting sideways
A fin under a sailboat that moves up and down to reduce sideways drift
A metal piece under a boat that keeps it from moving sideways
How Effective
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun denotes a keel that is lowered or released; combining 'drop' (to lower/release) with 'keel' (the ship's longitudinal plate) yields a directly compositional meaning of a keel that can be dropped or retracted to prevent leeward drift. This follows a regular verb+noun naming pattern and is predictable cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely understand it.
Etymology
The noun drop keel comes from boats where a long fin, the keel, can drop down into the water. That fin keeps the boat steady and 'prevents it from sliding sideways', so the term means a movable keel that helps a boat stay stable.