Keel"son (?), n. [Akin to Sw. kolsvin, Dan. kjolsviin, G. kielschwein; apparently compounded of the words keel and swine; but cf. Norweg. kjolsvill, where svill is akin to E. sill, n. ] Shipbuilding
A piece of timber in a ship laid on the middle of the floor timbers over the keel, and binding the floor timbers to the keel; in iron vessels, a structure of plates, situated like the keelson of a timber ship.
Cross keelson, a similar structure lying athwart the main keelson, to support the engines and boilers.
© Webster 1913.