subs. (old: now recognised).—See KEELHAUL: hence a good rating; rough treatment.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1838. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 2. S. xxiii. ‘There’s a KEEL-HAULING in store for some of you that shall be nameless, as sure as you are born.’
