tow

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To pull something behind one, such as by using a line, chain, or tongue.
2. (usually) To aid someone behind by shielding them from wind resistance.

Noun

1. The act of towing and the condition of being towed.
2. Something, such as a tugboat, that tows.
3. Something, such as a barge, that is towed.
4. A rope or cable used in towing.
5. A speed increase given by driving in front of another car on a straight, which causes a slipstream for the car behind.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) An untwisted bundle of fibres such as cellulose acetate, flax, hemp or jute.
2. (countable, specifically, uncountable) The short, coarse, less desirable fibres separated by hackling from the finer longer fibres (line).

Synonyms

drag

pull

haul

tug

draw

oakum

trail

towage

towing

carry

traction

draught

drawl

draft

drag along

fire

🔥

hards

hitch

lead

pulling

shoot

twitch

tow-line

draw in

hauling

have in tow

hemp

tow-rope

kedge

stroke

lint

lug

move

draw back

play

dragging

pull back

draw along

pull out

pull up

retract

swimming stroke

stretch

take

taxis

temptation

tie

convey

conduct

combings

Translations

schleppen

remorquer

trekken

rimorchiare

remolcar

remolque

boegseren

traîner

abschleppen

arrastrar

trainare

rimorchio

Werg

slepen

rebocar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/təʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: towen

Inherited from Old English: togian

Cognate with Middle High German: zogen

Cognate with German: ziehen

Cognate with Dutch: tijgen

Cognate with Old Norse: toga

Inherited from Middle English: touw

Inherited from Old English:

Cognate with Old Norse: tó

Cognate with Dutch: touw

Cognate with Old English: tawian

Cognate with Gothic: 𐍄𐌰𐌿𐌾𐌰𐌽

In summary

From Middle English towen, from Old English togian, from Proto-West Germanic *togōn, from Proto-Germanic *tugōną, from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-.
See also Middle High German zogen, German ziehen, Dutch tijgen, Old Norse toga.