v. & n.
v. (tugged, tugging) 1 tr. & (foll. by at) intr. pull hard or violently; jerk (tugged it from my grasp; tugged at my sleeve). 2 tr. tow (a ship etc.) by means of a tugboat.
n. 1 a hard, violent, or jerky pull (gave a tug on the rope). 2 a sudden strong emotional feeling (felt a tug as I watched them go). 3 a small powerful boat for towing larger boats and ships. 4 an aircraft towing a glider. 5 (of a horse's harness) a loop from a saddle supporting a shaft or trace. tug of love colloq. a dispute over the custody of a child. tug of war 1 a trial of strength between two sides pulling against each other on a rope. 2 a decisive or severe contest. tugger n.
[ ME togge, tugge, intensive f. Gmc: see TOW(1) ]