from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tug \Tug\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tugged}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Tugging}.] [OE. toggen; akin to OD. tocken to entice, G.
zucken to jerk, draw, Icel. toga to draw, AS. t['e]on, p. p.
togen, to draw, G. ziehen, OHG. ziohan, Goth. tiuhan, L.
ducere to lead, draw. Cf. {Duke}, {Team}, {Tie}, v. t.,
{Touch}, {Tow}, v. t., {Tuck} to press in, {Toy} a
plaything.]
1. To pull or draw with great effort; to draw along with
continued exertion; to haul along; to tow; as, to tug a
loaded cart; to tug a ship into port.
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There sweat, there strain, tug the laborious oar.
--Roscommon.
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2. To pull; to pluck. [Obs.]
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To ease the pain,
His tugged cars suffered with a strain. --Hudibras.
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