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.
© Webster 1913.
Tow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Towed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Towing.] [OE. towen, toen; akin to OFries. toga to pull about, OHG. zogon, Icel. toga, AS. tohline a towline, and AS.teon 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.