Sc. [KEEL sb.3]

1

  1.  A dealer in keel or ruddle.

2

1796.  Acc., in Scott, Old Mort., Introd. (1862), 8. To 3 Chappins of Yell with Sandy the Keelman, 0 0 9.

3

  2.  One of a class of Irish linen-dealers (see quot.).

4

1821.  Brenner, Irish Linen Trade, in Cassell’s Gt. Indust. Gt. Brit. (1878–80), II. xvi. 196. The ‘Keelmen’ were so-called from the first persons who got into the trade being very illiterate, and, unable to write in ordinary characters, they marked on each piece of linen the price at which it was bought with ‘keel.’

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