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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of towing, or the state of being towed; -- chiefly used in the phrase, to take in tow, that is to tow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is towed, or drawn by a towline, as a barge, raft, collection of boats, ect. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Tow, v..cf. F. touage. ] 1. The act of towing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The price paid for towing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A towel. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. &unr_;. See Toward, prep. ] 1. Approaching; coming near. “His toward peril.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Readly to do or learn; compliant with duty; not froward; apt; docile; tractable; as, a toward youth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Ready to act; forward; bold; valiant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being towardly; docility; tractableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The beauty and towardliness of these children moved her brethren to envy. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Toward, a., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

He's towardly and will come on apace. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality or state of being toward. [ 1913 Webster ]