Keel-haul


Keel-haul is a form of punishment or execution once meted out to sailors at sea. The sailor was tied to a rope that looped beneath the vessel, thrown overboard on one side of the ship, and dragged under the ship's keel, either from one side of the ship to the other, or the length of the ship. The purpose of keel-hauling was to punish the sailor for a crime committed onboard, such as theft or insubordination. The punishment was often fatal, either because the sailor was held underwater for too long, or because the rough bottom of the ship's hull inflicted fatal injuries. Keel-hauling was banned in the British Royal Navy in 1720, but continued to be used in some navies until the 20th century.


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