ˈcat-haul, n. U.S.
[cat n.1 17.]
(See quot.) Also ˈcat-haul v. trans., to subject to this punishment; fig. to examine stringently; hence cat-hauling vbl. n.
| 1824 ‘A. Singleton’ Lett. fr. South & West 79 The cat-haul; that is, to fasten a slave down flatwise..and then to take a huge fierce tom-cat by the tail backward, and haul him down along the..bare back, with his claws clinging into the quick all the way. 1840 Congress. Globe 12 Jan., App. 99/2 White people of the South..hunting slaves with dogs and guns,—cat-hauling slaves, &c. 1844–7 Chambers' Misc. Useful Tracts cxlix. 17, I saw a slave punished by cat-hauling. The cat was placed on the bare shoulders, and forcibly dragged by the tail down the back..of the prostrate slave. 1881 Congress. Rec. 28 Feb. 2202/2 You begin to ransack and examine and cat-haul the whole navy, big and little. 1950 R. Starnes And when she was Bad xvii. 109 Brafferton's cathauling by the Harford Committee commanded a banner headline. |