tow
TOH
/toʊ/
To pull a vehicle along behind another vehicle using a chain, rope, or specialized tow truck.
In traffic enforcement, towing is the physical consequence of parking illegally or having an impounded vehicle removed.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Old English 'togian', which means 'to drag or pull'. It is closely related to the German word 'ziehen' (to pull) and the English word 'tug'. It has remained virtually unchanged in meaning for over a thousand years.
Word relationships
- haul: Haul implies carrying a heavy load over a long distance, while tow specifically means pulling a wheeled vehicle behind another.
- drag: Drag implies pulling something along the ground without wheels, whereas tow involves a wheeled vehicle.
Commonly confused with
- impound: Towing is the physical transportation of the vehicle, while impounding is the legal seizure and holding of it.
Word family
- towage (noun): The act of towing or the charge made for it.
Collocations
- tow truck
- tow away
- get towed
- tow zone
Example sentences
- "If you park in this private lot without a permit, the property owner will tow your vehicle at your expense." A warning sign posted in a private parking lot.
Memory hook
If you park where you shouldn't, a 'tow' truck will 'toe' your car away. Tow trucks pull cars from head to toe.
When not to use
Do not use 'tow' if the vehicle is being carried entirely on the back of a flatbed truck, though colloquially people still say 'towed'.
Fun facts
- The term 'towpath' refers to the paths alongside canals where horses would walk to pull (tow) barges along the water.
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