Careen

Pronunciation

Origin

Late 16th century, from French carene ("keel"), from Genoese Ligurian carena, from Latin carina ("keel of a ship"), from Proto-Indo-European *kert-, *kret- ("strong, powerful"), see also Ancient Greek κράτυς (kratus, "strong"), κράτος (kratos, "strength, power, dominion").

Full definition of careen

Verb

1. (nautical) To heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other, in order to clean it of barnacles and weed, or to repair it below the water line.
2. (nautical) To tilt on one side.
3. To lurch or sway violently from side to side.
4. To tilt or lean while in motion. from late 19th c.
5. To career. from at least early 20th c.

Derived terms

• careenage

Synonyms

• heel

Anagrams

• Cerean