Tow \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tow \Tow\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Towed; p. pr. & vb. n. Towing.]

[OE. towen, to?en; akin to OFries. toga to pull about, OHG. zog[=o]n, Icel. toga, AS. tohline a towline, and AS.te['o]n 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tow \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)