Tow (?), n. [OE. tow, AS. tow, akin to OD. touw, Icel. &?; a tuft of
wool for spinning; cf. E. taw, v.t.] The coarse and broken part of flax
or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.
Tow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Towed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Towing.] [OE.
towen, to&?;en; akin to OFries. toga to pull about, OHG. zogn, Icel.
toga, AS. tohline a towline, and AS.teón to draw, p. p. getogen. See
Tug] To draw or pull through the water, as a vessel of any kind, by
means of a rope.
<! p. 1523 !>
Tow (?), n. [Cf. Icel. taug a rope, from the same root as E. tow, v.
t.] 1. A rope by which anything is towed; a towline, or towrope.
2. The act of towing, or the state of being towed; —chiefly used in the
phrase, to take in tow, that is to tow.
3. That which is towed, or drawn by a towline, as a barge, raft,
collection of boats, ect.
Tow"age (?), n. [From Tow, v. Cf. F. touage.] 1. The act of towing.