▪ I. keeler1 rare.
(ˈkiːlə(r))
Also 4 keler.
[f. keel n.2 + -er1.]
† a. A keelman. b. (See quot. 1875).
| 1322 Tynemouth Chartulary (MS.) lf. 68 [cf Gibson Monast. Tynemouth I. 139] Et omnes..seruientes in bargiâ qui dicuntur kelers..venient quolibet anno ad Natale domini in festo sanctorum Innocentium apud Whiteley. 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts, Keeler, a manager of coal-barges and colliers in the Durham and Northumberland districts. |
▪ II. keeler2 Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 5 kelare, kyler, 6 kieler, kealer, -or, 7 keellar, 7– keeler, (8–9 killer).
[f. keel v.1 + -er1.]
1. A vessel for cooling liquids; a shallow tub used for household purposes.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 269/2 Kelare, vesselle, frigidarium. 1465 in Paston Lett. III. 435, vj kylers, ij clensyng sates. 1567 Richmond Wills (Surtees) 211 In the brewhouse, iiij leades for kealors. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 510 They vsed to seeth the same..and poure it into certaine troughs or broad keelers of wood. 1758 Franklin Lett., etc. Wks. 1840 VI. 536 A shallow tray, or keeler, should be under the frame to receive any water that might drip from the wetted cloths. 1825 Ann. Reg. 72 A milk-tub, which they call a keeler. 1854 Househ. Words 2 Sept. 54/2 They are pressed into keelers—tubs made of substantial oak, lessening in size to suit the lessening bulk of the cheese as it dries. 1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. 578/3 Indurated Wood Fibre Ware... Keelers..Diam. 20 in. a 1901 Mod. dial. (Kent), Put the water in that keeler and set it outside, it will soon cool then. 1909 E. I. Denny Blazing the Way iii. i. 393 A distracted grey-haired lum-e-i, his mother, came to our house to beg for a keeler of water. |
2. A shallow wooden box used in dressing mackerel (Cent. Dict. 1890).
3. Comb., as keeler-tub.
| 1866 Lowell Biglow Papers Introd., Keeler-tub, one in which dishes are washed. |