Tug \Tug\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Tugging.]

[OE. toggen; akin to OD. tocken to entice, G. zucken to jerk, draw, Icel. toga to draw, AS. t['e]on, p. p. togen, to draw, G. ziehen, OHG. ziohan, Goth. tiuhan, L. ducere to lead, draw. Cf. Duke, Team, Tie, v. t., Touch, Tow, v. t., Tuck to press in, Toy a plaything.]

1. To pull or draw with great effort; to draw along with continued exertion; to haul along; to tow; as, to tug a loaded cart; to tug a ship into port.

There sweat, there strain, tug the laborious oar. --Roscommon.

2. To pull; to pluck. [Obs.]

To ease the pain, His tugged cars suffered with a strain. --Hudibras.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tug \Tug\, v. i.

1. To pull with great effort; to strain in labor; as, to tug at the oar; to tug against the stream.

He tugged, he shook, till down they came. --Milton.

2. To labor; to strive; to struggle.

England now is left To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth The unowed interest of proud-swelling state. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tug \Tug\, n.

1. A pull with the utmost effort, as in the athletic contest called tug of war; a supreme effort.

At the tug he falls, Vast ruins come along, rent from the smoking walls. --Dryden.

2. A sort of vehicle, used for conveying timber and heavy articles. [Prov. Eng.]

--Halliwell.

3. (Naut.) A small, powerful steamboat used to tow vessels; -- called also steam tug, tugboat, and towboat.

4. A trace, or drawing strap, of a harness.

5. (Mining.) An iron hook of a hoisting tub, to which a tackle is affixed.

Tug iron, an iron hook or button to which a tug or trace may be attached, as on the shaft of a wagon.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)