skeg

noun

ˈskeg 

variants or less commonly skag

ˈskag 

1

: the stern of the keel of a ship near the sternpost

especially : the part connecting the keel with the bottom of the rudderpost in a single-screw ship

2

: a fin situated on the rear bottom of a surfboard that is used for steering and stability

Examples of skeg in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, the kayaks come with two removable skegs that make for smooth maneuvering through both deep and shallow water. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2023

One is how well a large extension to the new tugs' underside, called a skeg and designed to stop tankers by creating extra drag, will affect maneuverability. —Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Jan. 2018

As the water dropped below the bottom of the depth gauge, the blocking under the skeg at the rear of the hull peeped above the surface. —Lawrence Specker, AL.com, 19 Oct. 2017

There are also afts called skegs and rudders which prevent the seaplane from tipping over in the ocean. —David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 22 Sep. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English skegge, from Old Norse skegg cutwater, literally, beard — more at shag

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1