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/.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use keelhaul in a sentence
It was not possible that the boys could entertain such a monstrous proposition as that of keelhauling a learned professor.
Dikes and Ditches | Oliver OpticHe suffered greater agony than did Jeremy as the crew made ready to begin their awful work, for he had seen keelhauling before.
The Black Buccaneer | Stephen W. MeaderGeorge Penne is such a villain that keelhauling is too good for him.
For Faith and Freedom | Walter BesantWe'll give them a keelhauling for it as soon as the wind lulls!
The Rock of the Lion | Molly Elliot SeawellI tell you, I have not a little but a great inclination to give you a good keelhauling.
Varney the Vampire | Thomas Preskett Prest
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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