To drag or pull something forcefully, often used in the phrase 'hale into court' meaning to force someone to appear before a judge.
From Old French 'haler,' meaning 'to pull' or 'to haul.' It has Germanic roots and is related to 'haul.' It's been used since medieval times, especially in legal contexts.
The phrase 'hale into court' is a legal term that sounds archaic today, but it perfectly captures the forceful power of the law—if you 'hale' someone to court, you're using legal authority to make them appear, which emphasizes justice's muscular power.
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