verb / noun

haul

HAWL/hɔːl/

To move a load through sustained pulling or carrying.

An adult hauls a loaded garden cart up a gentle path.

An adult pulls a heavy garden cart by both handles up a gentle path, legs braced and load moving with effort.

Etymology

Old French haler meant to pull, tow, or tug. That dragging action remains the core image in hauling a heavy load, extending to transporting it with effort.

In context

DesBrisay Museum Bridgewater6:10

i had a dog with a harness and a sled and i used to take the dog across the lake to haul the piece of wood home

Roy and Brandon Levy Yoke Making (2010)

More examples

We haul the boxes upstairs one at a time.
The truck hauled gravel to the construction site.
The crew sorts the day's haul of fish.

Forms

haul · hauls · hauled · hauling

hauler noun — A person or business that transports loads.

Similar words

drag: Emphasizes pulling something along a surface rather than carrying it.
carry: Emphasizes supporting a load while moving, rather than pulling it.
transport: Emphasizes moving between locations without suggesting weight or effort.