Keelhaul Definition

kēlhôl
keelhauls
verb
To haul (a person) down through the water on one side of a ship, under the keel, and up on the other side as a punishment or torture.
Webster's New World
To scold or rebuke harshly.
Webster's New World

Origin of Keelhaul

  • Alteration (influenced by keel) (haul) of Dutch kielhalen kiel keel of a ship (from Middle Dutch) halen to haul (from Middle Dutch) kelə-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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