Towline
/ˈtoʊˌlaɪn/noun
A rope or cable used for towing or pulling something.
Did you know?Towline is a transparent compound of tow and line, and tow itself goes back to an old Germanic verb meaning to pull or drag—so the word is built from the physics of being hauled, not just tied.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deuk-
“to lead, draw, or pull”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*teuhaną
“to pull, draw”
Old English
OE
tōgan
“to pull, drag, lead”
Middle English
ME
towen
“to pull or drag”
Modern English
English
tow
“to pull behind a vehicle or vessel”
Modern English
English
towline
“a line used for towing or pulling”