careen

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to move rapidly and unsteadily from side to side, as though likely to overturn

   The wagon careened down the muddy road.

2. 2
   verb

   nautical: to tilt a ship onto one side so that its hull can be cleaned or repaired

   The crew careened the vessel on the beach to repair its hull.

3. 3
   noun

   a lurching or tilting movement

   A sudden careen sent the loose boxes sliding across the deck.

From French carene, 'keel,' through Italian carena from Latin carina. The original verb meant to expose a ship's hull by heeling it over; the modern movement sense arose from the image of a vessel leaning dangerously to one side.

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