haul

[ hawl ]

/ hɔl /

verb (used with object)

to pull or draw with force; move by drawing; drag: They hauled the boat up onto the beach.

to cart or transport; carry: He hauled freight.

to cause to descend; lower (often followed by down): to haul down the flag.

to arrest or bring before a magistrate or other authority (often followed by before, in, to, into, etc.): He was hauled before the judge.

verb (used without object)

to pull or tug.

to go or come to a place, especially with effort: After roistering about the streets, they finally hauled into the tavern.

to do carting or transport, or move freight commercially.

Nautical.

to sail, as in a particular direction.
to draw or pull a vessel up on land, as for repairs or storage.
(of the wind) to shift to a direction closer to the heading of a vessel (opposed to veer).
(of the wind) to change direction, shift, or veer (often followed by round or to).

noun

an act or instance of hauling; a strong pull or tug.

something that is hauled.

the load hauled at one time; quantity carried or transported.

the distance or route over which anything is hauled.

Fishing.

the quantity of fish taken at one draft of the net.
the draft of a fishing net.
the place where a seine is hauled.

the act of taking or acquiring something.

something that is taken or acquired: The thieves' haul included several valuable paintings.

Verb Phrases

haul off,

Nautical. to change a ship's course so as to get farther off from an object.
to withdraw; leave.
Informal. to draw back the arm in order to strike; prepare to deal a blow: He hauled off and struck the insolent lieutenant a blow to the chin.

haul up,

to bring before a superior for judgment or reprimand; call to account.
to come to a halt; stop.
Nautical. to change the course of (a sailing vessel) so as to sail closer to the wind.
Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to come closer to the wind.
Nautical. (of a vessel) to come to a halt.

Idioms for haul

haul around, Nautical.

to brace (certain yards of a sailing vessel).
(of the wind) to change in a clockwise direction.

haul in with, Nautical. to approach.

haul/shag ass, Slang: Vulgar. to get a move on; hurry.

long haul,

a relatively great period of time: In the long haul, he'll regret having been a school dropout.
a relatively great distance: It's a long haul from Maine to Texas.
Nautical. the drawing up on shore of a vessel for a relatively long period of time, as for winter storage or longer.

short haul,

a relatively small period of time: For the short haul, he'll be able to get by on what he earns.
a relatively little distance: The axle wouldn't break for just a short haul.
Nautical. the drawing up on shore of a vessel for a relatively short period, as for repairs or painting.

Origin of haul

1550–60; earlier hall, variant of hale²

synonym study for haul

1. See draw.

OTHER WORDS FROM haul

re·haul, verb un·hauled, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH haul

hall haul

Words nearby haul

hauf, haugh, haughey, haughty, hauhau, haul, haul off, haul over the coals, haul up, haulage, haulageway

British Dictionary definitions for haul off (1 of 2)

haul off

verb (intr, adverb)

(foll by and) US and Canadian informal to draw back in preparation (esp to strike or fight) I hauled off and slugged him

nautical to alter the course of a vessel so as to avoid an obstruction, shallow waters, etc

British Dictionary definitions for haul off (2 of 2)

haul

/ (hɔːl) /

verb

to drag or draw (something) with effort

(tr) to transport, as in a lorry

nautical to alter the course of (a vessel), esp so as to sail closer to the wind

(tr) nautical to draw or hoist (a vessel) out of the water onto land or a dock for repair, storage, etc

(intr) nautical (of the wind) to blow from a direction nearer the bow Compare veer 1 (def. 3b)

(intr) to change one's opinion or action

noun

the act of dragging with effort

(esp of fish) the amount caught at a single time

something that is hauled

the goods obtained from a robbery

a distance of hauling a three-mile haul

the amount of a contraband seizure arms haul; drugs haul

in the long haul or over the long haul

in a future time
over a lengthy period of time

Word Origin for haul

C16: from Old French haler, of Germanic origin; see hale ²

Idioms and Phrases with haul off (1 of 2)

haul off

Draw back slightly, in preparation for some action. For example, He hauled off and smacked his brother in the face. [c. 1800]

Also, haul out. Shift operations to a new place, move away. For example, The group gradually hauled off to the West Coast, or The train hauled out just as I arrived. [Second half of 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with haul off (2 of 2)

haul

In addition to the idioms beginning with haul

haul off
haul over the coals
haul up

also see:

long haul
rake (haul) over the coals

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

haul

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Idioms for haul

Origin of haul

synonym study for haul

OTHER WORDS FROM haul

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH haul

Words nearby haul

British Dictionary definitions for haul off (1 of 2)

verb (intr, adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for haul off (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for haul

Idioms and Phrases with haul off (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with haul off (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

haul

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Idioms for haul

Origin of haul

synonym study for haul

OTHER WORDS FROM haul

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH haul

Words nearby haul

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for haul off (1 of 2)

verb (intr, adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for haul off (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for haul

Idioms and Phrases with haul off (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with haul off (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for haul off (1 of 2)