verb
keel
To fall or tip over suddenly, usually in “keel over.”
After standing in the heat, he suddenly keels over.
Etymology
The verb uses the boat part as a reference for orientation. Keeling over tips the vessel, and the phrase broadened to a person suddenly collapsing.
More examples
- The top-heavy vase keels over with a slight bump.
- She catches the runner as he starts to keel over.
- I nearly keeled over when I saw the bill.
Forms
keel · keels · keeled · keeling
Similar words
- collapse
- Emphasizes falling down from weakness or loss of support.
- topple
- Emphasizes tipping from an upright position after losing balance.