keelhaul
Nautical. to haul (an offender) under the bottom of a ship and up on the other side as a punishment.
to rebuke severely.
Origin of keelhaul
1- Also called keel·drag [keel-drag], /ˈkilˌdræg/, keel·rake [keel-reyk]. /ˈkilˌreɪk/.
- Also keel·hale [keel-heyl]. /ˈkil heɪl/.
Words Nearby keelhaul
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use keelhaul in a sentence
And Operation keelhaul is all anyone needs to know to understand the extent of Western “help” after WWII.
Caught Between Empires, Ukraine Can’t Rely on the West for its Independence | Roman Skaskiw | March 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhile he was considering the matter, Mr. Lowington went on deck, and investigated the plot to keelhaul the professor.
Dikes and Ditches | Oliver Optic"Yes, you may go; but I'll keelhaul every man who's not off to his work by daylight—recollect that," replied Vanderdecken.
George Cruikshank's Omnibus | George Cruikshank"keelhaul me if I cut adrift at this stage of the game," answered Ferral.
Motor Matt's Hard Luck | Stanley R. MatthewsHe had sneaked in without Aunt's knowing it, and on reaching home was heard to express a strong desire to 'keelhaul them doctors.'
The North Pacific | Willis Boyd Allen
British Dictionary definitions for keelhaul
/ (ˈkiːlˌhɔːl) /
to drag (a person) by a rope from one side of a vessel to the other through the water under the keel
to rebuke harshly
Origin of keelhaul
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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