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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Tow

Tōw, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. TOWED; p. pr. & vb. n. TOWING.] [A-S. teóhan, teón, to lead, draw; toh, a drawing, tohline, a towing-line; O. Eng. tow, id.; Icel. toga, to draw; tog, a drawing; whence also Fr. touer.] To drag, as a boat or ship, through the water by means of a rope.

Tōw, n.

noun

n. [A-S. taw, tow, tow; O. Fries. tow, tauw, L. Ger. tou, taw, a rope, implement; Dan. tov, Sw. tåg, Icel. taug, H. Ger. tau, a rope; Dan. tave, a filament. Cf. Tew.]

  1. The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.
  2. A rope by which any thing is towed. [Obs.]
  3. The act of towing, or the state of being towed; — chiefly used in the phrase to take in tow, that is, to tow.