GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions 

  1.       

    Tow , n. [OE. tow, AS. tow, akin to OD. touw, Icel.  tō 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.
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  2.       

    Tow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Towed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Towing.] [OE. towen, toȝen; akin to OFries. toga to pull about, OHG. zogōn, 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.
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  3.       

    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.
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    2. The act of towing, or the state of being towed; -- chiefly used in the phrase, to take in tow, that is to tow.
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    3. That which is towed, or drawn by a towline, as a barge, raft, collection of boats, ect.
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