/ hɔːl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to pull sth/sb with a lot of effort :
The wagons were hauled by horses.
He reached down and hauled Liz up onto the wall.
➡ note at pull
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] haul yourself up / out of etc. to move yourself somewhere slowly and with a lot of effort :
She hauled herself out of bed.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to force sb to go somewhere they do not want to go :
A number of suspects have been hauled in for questioning.
4.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] haul sb (up) before sb/sth to make sb appear in court in order to be judged :
He was hauled up before the local magistrates for dangerous driving.
•
IDIOMS
- haul sb over the coals
■ noun
1.
a large amount of sth that has been stolen or that is illegal :
a haul of weapons
a drugs haul
2.
( especially in sport ) a large number of points, goals, etc. :
His haul of 40 goals in a season is a record.
3.
[ usually sing. ] the distance covered in a particular journey :
They began the long slow haul to the summit.
Our camp is only a short haul from here.
Take the coast road—it'll be less of a haul (= an easier journey) .
—see also long haul , short-haul
4.
a quantity of fish caught at one time
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (originally in the nautical sense trim sails for sailing closer to the wind ): variant of hale drag with force .