verb
heel
To lean to one side, especially of a boat.
The sailboat heels to one side as the wind picks up.
Etymology
The older verb concerns inclining or tilting. The nautical use preserves that movement when a vessel leans away from an upright position.
More examples
- A sudden gust makes the boat heel sharply.
- The yacht heeled to the left during the turn.
- With everyone on one side, the canoe is heeling dangerously.
Forms
heel · heels · heeled · heeling