This is the 5288th most frequent Dutch word.
kiel
"Keel" in English refers to the bottom of a ship's hull or a type of smock or tunic.
Here 'kiel' refers to 'tunic', meaning a garment typically worn as work clothing by sailors.
De matroos droeg een nieuwe kiel tijdens het werk op het schip.
The sailor wore a new tunic during work on the ship.
In this sentence, 'kiel' stands for 'keel', which is the structure at the bottom of a ship responsible for stability in water.
De kiel van de boot was beschadigd door de rotsen.
The boat's keel was damaged by the rocks.
Here, 'kiel' is metaphorically used to refer to the base or bottom of a tree trunk.