'close-hauled' definitions:

Definition of 'close-hauled'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Having the sails trimmed for sailing as close to the wind as possible

Definition of 'close-hauled'

From: GCIDE
  • Closehauled \Close"hauled`\, close-hauled \close-hauled\, a. (Naut.) Under way and moving as nearly as possible toward the direction from which the wind blows; having the sails trimmed for sailing as close to the wind as possible; -- said of a sailing vessel. [1913 Webster] close-knit