verb
keelhaul
KEEL-hawl/ˈkiːlhɔːl/
To punish by dragging someone beneath a ship.
The captain threatens to keelhaul a sailor for stealing supplies.
Etymology
Literally “haul under the keel,” this named a punishment in which someone was dragged beneath a ship. That severe physical punishment became an image for a harsh reprimand.
More examples
- The prisoner begged the crew not to keelhaul him.
- The novel describes a sailor being keelhauled beneath a warship.
- Keelhauling could leave a sailor badly injured or dead.
Forms
keelhaul · keelhauls · keelhauled · keelhauling
Similar words
- punish
- Covers any penalty, not specifically dragging someone beneath a ship.