Towboat
/ˈtoʊ.boʊt/noun
A boat used to pull or push other vessels.
Did you know?Towboat is a transparent compound of tow and boat, and tow goes back to an old Germanic word for pulling or dragging—so the word’s core image is pure force in motion.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
tāwian
“to prepare, make ready”
Middle English
ME
towen
“to pull or drag”
Old English
OE
bāt
“boat, vessel”
19th Century
English
tow boat
“a boat used for towing other vessels”
Modern English
English
towboat
“a vessel designed to push or pull barges and other craft”