tug
(verb, noun)
/tʌg/
LISTEN
To tug means ‘to pull at with force or effort’ and also ‘to drag or haul.’ As a nautical term, tug means ‘to tow a vessel with a tugboat,’ which is a small, powerful boat specifically used for towing or pushing ships. The noun tug can be short for tugboat, and its also an act or instance of tugging. A contest between opposing forces, groups, or people is also a tug.
Example sentences
- The small child tugged at the hem of her mother's coat.
- The boy tugged the sled back up the hill.
- The small boat tugged the ship into harbor.
- The tug went out to meet the large ship.
- Give that rope a tug.
- This election is proving to be a tug of wills between the two candidates.
Did you know?
A tug of war is a contest of strength where two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope. The first team to pull the rope a certain distance in its direction wins.
In pop culture
Listen to Paul McCartney singing “Tug of War” here:
Origin
Tug, meaning ‘to pull at something with force,’ dates back to the late 12th century, as the Middle English verb toggen, which meant ‘to play-wrestly’ or ‘to contend,’ which evolved from the Old English verb teohan (to pull), and is related to another Old English verb, togian (to tow). It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic tugojannan (to pull), from the Proto-Indo-European root deuk– (to lead). Tug is related to the Old High German zucchen (to pull or jerk) and the German zücken (to draw quickly), as well as the Latin dux, ducis (‘leader or commander’ as well as ‘governor of a province’) and ducere (to lead), the German Zaum (bridle), the Middle Welsh dygaf (I draw), and many English words, including abduce, abduct, conduct, conductor, deduction, dock, douche, ducat, duchess, duchy, duct, ductile, duke, education, induce, introduce, introduction, misconduct, produce, production, reduce, seduction, taut, team, teem, tie and tow. The noun, meaning ‘some parts of a harness,’ first appeared in the mid-14th century, and comes from the verb. The more common sense, ‘the act of pulling,’ dates back to around the year 1500. The sense of ‘a small, powerful vessel for pulling other vessels’ (most commonly a boat) dates back to the early 19th century. The phrase tug of war has been used since the mid-17th century. It was originally figurative, meaning ‘a strenuous contest of forces,’ and only became a literal sport in the late 19th century.
Word of the Day is released Monday through Friday.
