Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: French
Origin: haler 'to pull'

haul

1 verb
     
haul1 [transitive]
1 to pull something heavy with a continuous steady movement
haul something off/onto/out of etc something
She hauled her backpack onto her back.
the steam locomotive which hauled the train
I hauled the door shut behind me.
2

haul yourself up/out of something etc

a) to move somewhere with a lot of effort, especially because you are injured or tired:
Patrick hauled himself painfully up the stairs.
b) to succeed in achieving a higher position in society, in a competition etc:
He is confident that the club can haul themselves further up the league.
3

haul somebody over the coals

British English to criticize someone severely because they have done something wrong [= rake somebody over the coals American English]
4

haul off and hit/punch/kick somebody

American English informal to try to hit someone very hard
5

haul ass

American English spoken not polite to hurry

haul somebody off

phrasal verb
to force someone to go somewhere that they do not want to go, especially to prison:
Police handcuffed him and hauled him off to jail.

haul somebody up

phrasal verb
to officially bring someone to a court of law to be judged
haul somebody up before/in front of
Campbell was hauled up in front of the magistrate.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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