keelhaul

Where does the word "keelhaul" come from? It comes from Dutch kielhalen, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Keelhaul’s story begins in Dutch: kielhalen meant “to haul under a ship's keel.” Combining "kiel" (keel) and "halen" (to haul), a maritime punishment. It reached English by 1600s as keelhaul. A punishment of the Dutch and English navies in the 1600s. Today, keelhaul means to severely rebuke someone, from the historical naval punishment of dragging under a ship.

1. Stage 1 · Dutch · medieval kielhalen "to haul under a ship's keel", combining "kiel" (keel) and "halen" (to haul), a maritime punishment.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s keelhaul "to punish by dragging under a ship's keel", a punishment of the Dutch and English navies in the 1600s.