careen

Careen is a verb with several related senses. In general, it means to move rapidly and uncontrollably with a side-to-side tilt, or to lurch and list. It can describe a person, animal, vehicle, or vessel that swerves or tips in an unstable direction. The term often implies loss of control or an abrupt, unsteady motion.

In nautical usage, careen has a specialized meaning: to beach a vessel and lay it on its side (or heel it) for cleaning, caulking, or repairs. The process, called careening, exposes the hull for work and is typically undertaken at a suitable shore or at low water. A ship that is careening is temporarily out of the water and may be supported by blocks and braces.

As a figurative use, careen can describe rapid, uncontrollable movement or change, often downward: the stock price careened. It can also appear with or without an object; intransitive use is common for motion, while transitive use applies to the nautical sense.

Etymology is uncertain; the word has appeared in English since the early modern period, and its nautical sense developed from the general idea of tilting or leaning.