/hawl/ , v.t.
1. to pull or draw with force; move by drawing; drag: They hauled the boat up onto the beach.
2. to cart or transport; carry: He hauled freight.
3. to cause to descend; lower (often fol. by down ): to haul down the flag.
4. to arrest or bring before a magistrate or other authority (often fol. by before, in, to, into, etc.): He was hauled before the judge.
v.i.
5. to pull or tug.
6. to go or come to a place, esp. with effort: After roistering about the streets, they finally hauled into the tavern.
7. to do carting or transport, or move freight commercially.
8. Naut.
a. to sail, as in a particular direction.
b. to draw or pull a vessel up on land, as for repairs or storage.
c. (of the wind) to shift to a direction closer to the heading of a vessel (opposed to veer ).
d. (of the wind) to change direction, shift, or veer (often fol. by round or to ).
9. haul around , Naut.
a. to brace (certain yards of a sailing vessel).
b. (of the wind) to change in a clockwise direction.
10. haul or shag ass , Slang ( vulgar ). to get a move on; hurry.
11. haul in with , Naut. to approach.
12. haul off ,
a. Naut. to change a ship's course so as to get farther off from an object.
b. to withdraw; leave.
c. Informal. to draw back the arm in order to strike; prepare to deal a blow: He hauled off and struck the insolent lieutenant a blow to the chin.
13. haul up ,
a. to bring before a superior for judgment or reprimand; call to account.
b. to come to a halt; stop.
c. Naut. to change the course of (a sailing vessel) so as to sail closer to the wind.
d. Naut. (of a sailing vessel) to come closer to the wind.
e. Naut. (of a vessel) to come to a halt.
n.
14. an act or instance of hauling; a strong pull or tug.
15. something that is hauled.
16. the load hauled at one time; quantity carried or transported.
17. the distance or route over which anything is hauled.
18. Fishing.
a. the quantity of fish taken at one draft of the net.
b. the draft of a fishing net.
c. the place where a seine is hauled.
19. the act of taking or acquiring something.
20. something that is taken or acquired: The thieves' haul included several valuable paintings.
21. long haul ,
a. a relatively great period of time: In the long haul, he'll regret having been a school dropout.
b. a relatively great distance: It's a long haul from Maine to Texas.
c. Naut. the drawing up on shore of a vessel for a relatively long period of time, as for winter storage or longer.
22. short haul ,
a. a relatively small period of time: For the short haul, he'll be able to get by on what he earns.
b. a relatively little distance: The axle wouldn't break for just a short haul.
c. Naut. the drawing up on shore of a vessel for a relatively short period, as for repairs or painting.
[ 1550-60; earlier hall, var. of HALE 2 ]
Syn. 1. See draw .