keelhaul Definition
to punish someone by dragging them along the bottom of a ship, usually as a form of punishment among sailors in the past.
Using keelhaul: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "keelhaul" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The captain threatened to keelhaul the sailor for disobeying orders.
Example
In the old days, sailors who broke the rules were often keelhauled as punishment.
Example
The practice of keelhauling was banned by most navies in the 19th century.
keelhaul Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for keelhaul
Origins of keelhaul
from Dutch 'kielhalen', meaning 'to haul under the keel'
Summary: keelhaul in Brief
The verb 'keelhaul' [ˈkiːlhɔːl] means to punish someone by dragging them along the bottom of a ship, usually as a form of punishment among sailors in the past. It is a severe disciplinary measure that was used to maintain order and obedience on board ships. The practice of keelhauling has been banned by most navies since the 19th century.
