Tow
[təʊ] or [to]
Definition
(noun.) the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope; 'the truck gave him a tow to the garage'.
(verb.) drag behind; 'Horses used to tow barges along the canal'.
Edited by ELLA--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.
(v. t.) To draw or pull through the water, as a vessel of any kind, by means of a rope.
(v. t.) A rope by which anything is towed; a towline, or towrope.
(v. t.) The act of towing, or the state of being towed; --chiefly used in the phrase, to take in tow, that is to tow.
(v. t.) That which is towed, or drawn by a towline, as a barge, raft, collection of boats, ect.
Edited by Clifford
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Refuse flax, hards.
v. a. Draw (as a vessel, through the water), haul, drag, draw, pull, take in tow.
Editor: Simon
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Drag, draw, pull, haul,[See PEEVISH]
Inputed by Giles
Definition
v.t. to pull a vessel through the water with a rope.—n. originally a rope for towing with: the coarse part of flax or hemp: the act of towing.—ns. Tow′age act of towing: money for towing; Tow′-boat a boat that is towed or one used for towing other vessels.—n.pl. Tow′ing-bitts upright timbers projecting above the deck for fastening tow-lines to.—ns. Tow′ing-net a drag-net for collecting objects of natural history &c.; Tow′ing-path Tow′-path a path generally by the side of a canal or river for horses towing barges; Tow′-ī′ron a toggle-iron used in whaling; Tow′line a line used in towing.—adj. Tow′y like tow.
Checker: Rosalind
Examples
- The latter was encumbered with barges of coal in tow, and consequently could make but little speed against the rapid current of the Mississippi. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- You've got no call to come an' talk about sticks o' these primises, as you woon't give a stick tow'rt mending. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- They took twelve barges in tow, loaded also with rations. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- When he cast off the Patriarch at night, it was only to take an anonymous craft in tow, and labour away afresh in other waters. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- But the Tug, suddenly lightened, and untrammelled by having any weight in tow, was already puffing away into the distance. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- This combed out the matted tow of the hemp into clean, straight fiber. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Large granaries were established, and proved so successful that local capital was tempted into the project of making a tow-path canal from Lockwood Landing all the way to Milan itself. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Accordingly, Mr Venus slipped past Mr Wegg and towed him down. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Her father had seen the discovery being towed in the river. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Gurt pulled this in easily by the painter, and then bade Crispin get into it, so as to keep it off from the wall as it was towed along. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Pancks opened the door for him, towed him in, and retired to his own moorings in a corner. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Charlotte Dundas (Steamboat) towed canal Boats on the Clyde. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- A barge was being towed towards her, and she sat down on the bank to rest and watch it. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He started without delay, taking, however, only his own gunboat, the Carondelet, towed by the steamer Alps. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- He outwalked the short day, and was on the towing-path by the river, somewhat footsore, when the night closed in. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The vessel then moves forward slowly until it is in the entrance chamber, when lines are thrown out on the other side and connections are made with towing locomotives on the side wall. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Towing is not ordinarily required in any part of the canal, except in the locks, for steam or motor vessels. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- When he arose and came out to resume his journey, he found his host waiting for him on the grass by the towing-path outside the door. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- When he came back to the towing-path, he found the ferry-boat on the opposite side, and a gentleman hailing it and waiting to be taken over. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- And I'd have swum off, towing him by the hair, if it had come to that, and I'd a got him aboard without the soldiers. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Incline from locks of different levels up and down which the towing motors run on cog rails. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The object he had expected to take in tow, floats by, and his own boat tows him dead, to where we found him, all entangled in his own line. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
Typist: Tabitha