Definition

To make a sailing ship change direction by dropping an anchor and pulling in the anchor line to turn the back of the ship towards the wind.

Example

The captain decided to clubhaul the ship to avoid the storm.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you see how they had to clubhaul the boat to avoid the rocks?

Yeah, that was pretty intense!

I didn't think they could clubhaul that quickly under pressure.

Right? They definitely handled it like pros.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'clubhaul' originates from the combination of 'club' (from Old Norse 'klubba', meaning a heavy stick or cudgel) and 'haul' (from Old English 'halian', meaning to pull or drag). The term describes the act of pulling or dragging something heavy, often associated with a club or similar object.

Memory Tip

Think of using a heavy 'stick' ('club') to 'pull' ('haul') something along — that's what clubhaul means.

Visually Confused Words