KEELHAUL


Meaning of KEELHAUL in English

ˈkē(ə)lˌhȯl transitive verb

also keel·hale -hāl, esp before pause or consonant -āəl

Etymology: Dutch kielhalen, from kiel keel (from Middle Dutch) + halen to fetch, draw, pull, from Middle Dutch — more at keel , haul

1. : to haul (a person) under the keel of a ship either athwartships or from bow to stern by ropes in punishment (as on a naval vessel) or torture (as by pirates)

2. : to rebuke with great severity

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.