tow

== Translingual == === Etymology === Clipping of English Towa. === Symbol === tow (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Jemez. === See also === Wiktionary’s coverage of Jemez terms == English == === Etymology 1 === From Middle English towen, from Old English togian, from Proto-West Germanic *togōn, from Proto-Germanic *tugōną, from Proto-Indo-European *dewk-. See also Middle High German zogen, German ziehen, Dutch tijgen, Old Norse toga. ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation) enPR: tō, IPA(key): /təʊ/ (General American) enPR: tō, IPA(key): /toʊ/ Rhymes: -əʊ Homophone: toe ==== Verb ==== tow (third-person singular simple present tows, present participle towing, simple past and past participle towed) (transitive) To pull something behind one, such as by using a line, chain, or tongue. Near-synonyms: draw, haul, pull, trail (running, cycling, motor racing, etc.) To aid someone behind by shielding them from wind resistance. ===== Descendants ===== → Welsh: towio ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== tow (plural tows) The act of towing and the condition of being towed. Something, such as a tugboat, that tows. Something, such as a barge, that is towed. A rope or cable used in towing. (motor racing) A speed increase given by driving in front of another car on a straight, which causes a slipstream for the car behind. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English touw, from Old English tow- (“spinning”) (in compounds, e.g. towcræft, towhūs, towlic), from Proto-Germanic *tawwą; compare Old Norse tó (“uncleansed wool”), Dutch touw (“rope”). Perhaps cognate with Old English tawian (“prepare for use”), Gothic 𐍄𐌰𐌿𐌾𐌰𐌽 (taujan, “do, make”). ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation) enPR: tō, IPA(key): /təʊ/ (General American) enPR: tō, IPA(key): /toʊ/ (rare, some parts of the UK and Australia) enPR: tou, IPA(key): /taʊ/ ==== Noun ==== tow (countable and uncountable, plural tows) An untwisted bundle of fibres such as cellulose acetate, flax, hemp or jute. (specifically) The short, coarse, less desirable fibres separated by hackling from the finer longer fibres (line). ===== Synonyms ===== hards, oakum ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== taw ===== Translations ===== === References === === Anagrams === OTW, WTO, owt, two, wot == Middle English == === Alternative forms === towe, towȝ, towȝe, tough, towhe, togh, tawe, toow === Etymology === From Old English tow-, from Proto-Germanic *tawwą; for more see English tow. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /tɔu̯/ Rhymes: -ɔu̯ === Noun === tow Unprepared flax, especially used as a firestarter. The fibrous matter of flax or a similar plant; (tow). Oakum, hards; the rough portion of flax separated during hackling. ==== Descendants ==== English: tow Scots: towe ==== References ==== “tou, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 27 May 2018.