tow 1
— towable , adj. — towability , n.
/toh/ , v.t.
1. to pull or haul (a car, barge, trailer, etc.) by a rope, chain, or other device: The car was towed to the service station.
n.
2. an act or instance of towing.
3. something being towed.
4. something, as a boat or truck, that tows.
5. a rope, chain, metal bar, or other device for towing: The trailer is secured to the car by a metal tow.
6. See ski tow .
7. in tow ,
a. in the state of being towed.
b. under one's guidance; in one's charge.
c. as a follower, admirer, or companion: a professor who always had a graduate student in tow.
8. under tow , in the condition of being towed; in tow.
[ bef. 1000; ME towen (v.), OE togian to pull by force, drag; c. MHG zogen to draw, tug, drag. See TUG ]
Syn. 1. trail, draw, tug.
tow 2
/toh/ , n.
1. the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by scutching.
2. the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers in hackling.
3. synthetic filaments prior to spinning.
adj.
4. made of tow.
[ 1300-50; ME; OE tow- (in towlic pertaining to thread, towhus spinning house); akin to ON to wool ]
tow 3
/toh/ , n. Scot.
a rope.
[ 1425-75; late ME (Scots); OE toh- (in tohline towline); c. ON tog towline. See TOW 1 ]