haul

 
Pronunciation: /hɔːl/

verb

  • 1 [with object and adverbial] (of a person) pull or drag with effort or force: he hauled his bike out of the shed [no object, with adverbial]: she hauled on the reins
  • (haul oneself) propel or pull oneself with difficulty: he hauled himself along the cliff face
  • informal force (someone) to appear for reprimand or trial: he is to be hauled before the Press Council
  • 2 [with object] (of a vehicle) pull (an attached trailer or carriage) behind it: the engine hauls the overnight sleeper from London Euston
  • transport in a lorry or cart: he made a living hauling coal
  • 3 [no object, with adverbial of direction] Nautical (especially of a sailing ship) make an abrupt change of course: my plan was to haul offshore, well clear of the land

noun

  • 1a quantity of something that has been stolen or is possessed illegally: they escaped with a haul of antiques
  • a number of fish caught: he landed a record pike haul
  • the number of points, medals, or titles won by a person or team in a sporting event or over a period: his seven-goal haul against Liverpool
  • 2a distance to be covered in a journey: the thirty-mile haul to Boston

Phrases

haul ass

see ass2.

haul off

North American informal
leave; depart.
withdraw a little before doing something: he hauled off and smacked the kid

haul someone over the coals

see coal.

Origin:

mid 16th century (originally in the nautical sense 'trim sails for sailing closer to the wind'): variant of hale2