Standard Lemma guide

keelhaul

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkiːlhɔːl/
  • General-American: /ˈkiːlhɔl/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To punish by dragging under the keel of a ship with the intent of causing painful injuries.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To rebuke harshly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Dutch kielhalen (“keelhaul”), from kiel (“keel”) + halen (“fetch; catch”).

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: kielhaal — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Danish: kølhale — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Dutch: kielhalen — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Faroese: kjølhála — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Faroese: kjøldraga — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Finnish: vetää kölin alta — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • French: donner la cale — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • German: kielholen — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Hungarian: hajó(tőke) alatti áthúzás — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Icelandic: kjöldraga — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Norwegian Bokmål: kjølhale — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: kjølhala — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: kjølhale — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship
  • Swedish: kölhala — punish by dragging under the keel of a ship