keelhaul
/ˈkiːlhɔːl
/verb [with object]
1 historical Punish (someone) by dragging them through the water under the keel of a ship, either across the width or from bow to stern: if I catch any more on board I’ll keelhaul them...
- Then, his blue eyes narrowed a bit, ‘And if I hear any rumors to the contrary, I'll keelhaul you and anyone else that has any part of it!!’
- He might surface, gasp for air and taunting by his pirate comrades and then be keelhauled back underwater.
- Flogging, branding, keelhauling, locking sailors in chains, walking the plank, and hanging were used in this era.
1.1 humorous Punish or reprimand severely: anyone who laid a finger on her would be keelhauled...
- Coleridge's text may have been keelhauled, but the show still charts a course through it.
- Writers who send in poor photographs are keelhauled.
- Just remember that if your only fund is an index fund, a bear market will keelhaul your savings.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Dutch kielhalen.
- ice chimney
- ice chisel
- ice claw
- ice climber
- ice climbing
- ice closet
- ice cloud
- ice coffee
- ice-cold
- ice color
- ice colour
- ice contact
- ice-cool
- ice core
- ice-covered
- ice craft
- ice cream
- ice cream cake
- ice cream cone
- ice cream cornet
- ice-creamer
- ice cream headache
- ice-cream maker
- ice-cream pants
- ice-cream parlour