even keeln.
/ˌiːvn ˈkiːl/, U.S. /ˌiv(ə)n ˈkil/ 1. With reference to a boat or ship: a horizontal or level keel (cf. even adj.1 1b), typically understood as something to be maintained in order to ensure smooth or stable sailing. Also in extended use with reference to maintaining a land vehicle or aircraft in a horizontal alignment.
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1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. xi. 55 Trying her sailing with another Ship so many glasses, trimmed a head and so many a sterne, and so many vpon an euen Keele.
1685 N. Boteler Six Dialogues Sea-services iv. 146 The Swimming of her [sc. a Ship], either with her Head deep in the Water, or her Stern deep, or upon an even Keel (that is, upright).
?1750 W. Maitland Ess. Improvem. Navigation 14 The Stray-line will be in a Direction oblique to the Horizon, supposing the Ship upon an even Keel.
1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 117 A ship is said to swim on an even keel when she draws the same quantity of water abaft as forwards.
1909 Washington Post 1 July 2/1 Orville [Wright] seemed to be having his hands full keeping the machine above the earth and on an even keel.
1948 Life June 58 (advt.) Lower center of gravity gives..greater safety, holds the car on an even keel on all kinds of roads.
2001 D. J. Eyres Ship Constr. (ed. 5) xxvi. 289 Any watertight compartment..can be pumped out when the vessel has a list of up to 5°, and is on an even keel.
2. figurative and in figurative contexts, with reference to holding a person or thing steady, or to restoring stability or normality after a difficult period. Esp. in on (also upon) an even keel (and variants).
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the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun] > stable condition
consistence1661
consistencya1676
even keel1737
1737 M. Green Spleen 45 Thus, thus I steer my bark [through life], and sail On even keel with gentle gale.
1833 Foreign Q. Rev. 11 1 The small bark which is freighted with the germs of much of the knowledge on which universal human happiness must be based, still preserves an even keel.
1835 Lancaster Gaz. 26 Dec. It is only by the cordial co-operation of all classes in society the heeling vessel of the state can be brought once more to an even keel.
1843 Cleveland (Ohio) Daily Herald 21 Feb. The good old prosperous times ten years gone by, when things were on an even keel.
1900 Insurance Reg. 12 July 7/2 The existing average premium rate..is amply sufficient to keep their business ‘upon an even keel’.
1912 Outlook 15 June 346/2 Could he have gone through ten such weeks on an even keel, without haste, without carelessness, without mistaken judgments or prejudiced decisions?
1956 Times 1 May 19/4 The company is now on an even keel and the difficult post-war decade..is behind it.
2001 R. Hill Dialogues of Dead (2002) xxv. 282 Having got back to..an even keel with the super, it would be foolish to risk rocking the boat by letting personal dislike cloud his judgment.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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