The Long Haul Was Originally a Sea Voyage
To haul is to pull with effort. Nautical language gave the word most of its idioms.
To haul is to pull or drag with effort; a haul is a quantity gathered or a distance travelled. Sailing gave English most of its haul idioms. *The long haul* comes from a long stretch of hauling on ropes, *haul over the coals* from a punishment, and *haul up* means to bring before authority. A *haul* is also a catch of fish or stolen goods, from the hauling in of a net.
- To pull. *Haul the rope.*
- A distance. *A long haul.*
- A catch or take. *A good haul.*
- Haul up — bring before authority. *Hauled up.*
- Old French — *haler*, to pull. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | haul | Hauling. |
| Noun | haul | A haul. |
| Past | hauled | Hauled. |
| Agent | haulier | A haulier. |
| Compound | long-haul | Long-haul. |
- They hauled the boat ashore.Pulling.
- It is a long haul to Perth.Distance.
- The thieves made a good haul.Take.
Haul idioms from the sea
- The long haul — a sustained effort over time
- Haul over the coals — reprimand severely
- Haul up — bring someone before authority
- Haul off — to draw back before striking
- Close-hauled — sailing as near the wind as possible
Old French *haler*, to pull, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch *halen*.
Where does the long haul come from?
From sailing, where a long haul meant a sustained stretch of pulling on ropes, and later a long voyage.
What does close-hauled mean?
Sailing as close to the direction of the wind as the boat can manage, with the sails hauled in tight.