Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A line used in towing a vessel or vehicle.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A hawser used for towing vessels. Also towing-rope.
  • noun In whaling, the long line which is attached to the toggle-iron or harpoon, and by means of which the whale is made fast to the boat, and may tow it. Also tow-rope.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Naut.) A line used to tow vessels; a towrope.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A line or rope used for towing a vehicle

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (nautical) a rope used in towing

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Contact was established with the boat and an offer of a towline was accepted.

    Speaking Like A Pirate « Tales from the Reading Room 2009

  • We were drifting in darkness in the ocean when we were offered a towline.

    Speaking Like A Pirate « Tales from the Reading Room 2009

  • They were unhooking the towline when Angel received a transmission from Brother Cyrus.

    The Omega Theory Mark Alpert 2011

  • They were unhooking the towline when Angel received a transmission from Brother Cyrus.

    The Omega Theory Mark Alpert 2011

  • At 5 p.m., a helicopter was summoned to airlift the crew from the ship while a tugboat owned by Smit Pentow Marine Salvagers, the John Ross, connected a towline to the carrier and began moving it further offshore.

    The Great Penguin Rescue Dyan DeNapoli 2010

  • He grabbed the electrical cord towline and dragged the turtle to deeper water.

    Sparks Laura Bickle 2010

  • When the Bulldog returned, a towline was secured and the destroyer was ordered to make for Iceland.

    BOOK VIEW CAFE BLOG » A Father’s Secret 2010

  • He grabbed the electrical cord towline and dragged the turtle to deeper water.

    Sparks Laura Bickle 2010

  • The boarding party then tried to secure a towline from the Bulldog but the tow snapped.

    BOOK VIEW CAFE BLOG » A Father’s Secret 2010

  • He grabbed the electrical cord towline and dragged the turtle to deeper water.

    Sparks Laura Bickle 2010

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