Definition of haul

< haughty

haulage >

haul    (hôl) KEY 

VERB:
hauled, haul·ing, hauls
VERB:
tr.

1. To pull or drag forcibly; tug. See Synonyms at pull.
2. To transport, as with a truck or cart.
3. Informal To compel to go, especially for trial: "hauled the huge companies into court" (Peter Matthiessen).
4. Nautical To change the course of (a ship), especially in order to sail closer into the wind.

VERB:
intr.

1. To pull; tug.
2. To provide transportation; cart.
3. 1. To shift direction: The wind hauled to the east.
   2. To change one's mind.
4. Nautical To change the course of a ship.

NOUN:

1. The act of pulling or dragging.
2. The act of transporting or carting.
3. A distance, especially the distance over which something is pulled or transported.
4. Something that is pulled or transported; a load.
5. Everything collected or acquired by a single effort; the take: a big haul of fish.

PHRASAL VERBS:
haul off Informal

1. To draw back slightly, as in preparation for initiating an action: "hauled off and smacked the hapless aide across the face" (Bill Barol).
2. To shift operations to a new place; to move away.

haul up

To come to a halt.

IDIOM:
haul ass Vulgar Slang

To move quickly: We'll be late if you don't haul ass.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English haulen, from Old French haler, of Germanic origin; see kel-² in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
hauler(Noun)