Keelhauling—one of the most brutal forms of punishment in naval history—who has not heard of it? Keelhauling is a form of physical punishment which was used on pirate ships and in several navies such the English, Dutch and French navy (of the 17th to the 19th-century). Because Keelhauling was performed publicly, it had an exemplarily character on board of these ships. Keelhauling was used rarely and only in cases of violence against comrades or civilians, or in cases of mutiny. Among the different practices of keelhauling, the worst form was to drag the victims along the ships keel. The keel is a structural element of the ship which runs along the central line of the boat and resembles a ridge. The meaning of «Keelhauling», derived from the Dutch «keelhalen», is precisely to drag along the keel.
Music:
Drunken Sailor by The Midshipmen Glee Club
Sources:
"Diplomatarium Norvegicum". Arkivverket. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
Falconer, W., An Universal Dictionary of the Marine, 1784.
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