[f. KEEL sb.1 and 2.]
† a. ? A small keel: cf. KEEL sb.2 Obs. b. A large flat boat used on American rivers. c. A yacht having a keel instead of a centre-board.
a. 1695. Lond. Gaz., No. 2073/1. An Act for the better Admeasurement of Keels and Keel-Boats, in the Port of New-Castle.
1746. Act 19 Geo. II., c. 22. Any Ship, Pink, Crayer, Lighter, Keil-boat, or other Vessel whatsoever.
b. 1822. J. Flint, Lett. Amer., 85. Keel boats are large shallow vessels, varying from thirty to seventy tons burden. They are built on a keel with ribs, and covered with plank, as ships are.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, III. 119. Captain Sublette was ascending the Yellowstone with a keel boat, laden with supplies.
c. 1893. Westm. Gaz., 17 Oct., 5/3. On the other side of the Atlantic the most famous contemporary yachts have also been keel-boats. Ibid. It has been a matter of general opinion that, other things being equal, a keel boat can run a centreboard.
