1. to drag someone under the keel of a ship as punishment
Usage: nautical; historical
2. to rebuke or punish someone severely
Usage: informal

Examples

• The captain threatened to keelhaul any sailor caught stealing.
• Pirates were known to keelhaul their enemies as a brutal form of punishment.
• The coach keelhauls players who miss practice without excuse.
• She keelhauls her employees for the smallest mistakes.
• The boss will keelhaul anyone who arrives late to the meeting.
• Historical accounts describe how sailors feared being keelhauled more than death.
• The teacher keelhauls students who don’t turn in their homework.