Towage
/ˈtoʊ.ɪdʒ/noun
The act or service of towing a vessel, vehicle, or object.
Did you know?Towage comes from the same ancient root as “tow,” ultimately tied to dragging and pulling, a physical force so basic it became a formal maritime term in law and navigation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teuh₂-
“to pull, drag”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*teuhaną
“to pull, draw”
Old English
OE
tōwian
“to pull, drag, tow”
Middle English
ME
towen
“to pull along, especially a boat”
16th Century
English
towage
“the action or service of towing”