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., II. 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.
Mod. dial. (Kent). Put the water in that keeler and set it outside, it will soon cool then.
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.
