n. 1 the coarse and broken part of flax or hemp prepared for spinning. 2 a loose bunch of rayon etc. strands. tow-coloured (of hair) very light. tow-head tow-coloured or unkempt hair. tow-headed having very light or unkempt hair. towy adj.
[ ME f. MLG touw f. OS tou, rel. to ON tó wool: cf. TOOL ]