1. to haul (a person) under the keel of a ship as a punishment or torture
Usage: nautical; historical; third person singular present tense of keelhaul
2. to criticize or reprimand severely
Usage: figurative; informal

Examples

• The captain keelhales any sailor caught stealing from the ship's stores.
• The coach keelhales his players when they fail to follow team rules.
• She keelhales her employees for missing deadlines without explanation.
• The pirate captain keelhales deserters as a warning to others.
• He keelhales himself for every small mistake he makes.