In sailing, to haul or pull a rope or sail across the deck, or to move something by pulling it in a direction perpendicular to its length.
From 'cross' (across) and 'haul' (to pull or drag). This nautical term developed as sailors needed specific terminology for different rope and sail-handling operations on ships.
Sailors developed incredibly specific terms for every rope movement because unclear orders on a rolling ship could mean disaster—'crosshaul' would have been a precise instruction that every crew member understood instantly!
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