verkeilen
Translation
to wedge, to jam, to chock
Examples
Er verkeilte die Tür mit einem Holzstück.
He wedged the door with a piece of wood.
Das Rad hat sich im Schlamm verkeilt.
The wheel got jammed in the mud.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) ((with sth.)) to wedge (sth.) (with sth.) He wedged the door with a piece of wood.
sichAkk ((in sth.)) to get jammed/wedged (in sth.) The wheel got jammed in the mud.
Similar Words
festklemmen (to jam), blockieren (to block), stecken bleiben (to get stuck)
Etymology
From the prefix 'ver-' (indicating completion or a change of state) and 'Keil' (wedge).
Memory Tips
Picture using a 'Keil' (wedge) to 'ver-' (forcefully) secure something, or something getting stuck as if a wedge was driven into it.