tow line
Tugboat's pulling cable
A tow line is a rope or cable used to pull one vehicle behind another—typically a disabled boat behind a working one, or a car behind a tow truck.
They threw us a tow line when our engine died.
The term appears in both nautical and roadside contexts.
- ropeThick twisted fibers
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- tugShort forceful pull
- pullForce toward oneself
- dragResistance through fluid
haul · winch · hitch · boat · water skiing · trailer · vehicle · barge · rescue · slack · tension · knot · marina · hook · strap · chain · rigging · towpath
- boat safetylife raft, lifebuoy, life vests, flare, distress signal
- Boating Gearanchor chain, bilge pump, boat hook, bow light, cleat
- river navigationriver traffic, lock gate, river barge, river locks, river depth
- tethersleash, tether, tie, cord, rope
- towing linesrecovery strap
- nautical lineshalyard, sheet, bowline, mainsheet, hawser
function/purpose
tow linemooring line
Rope securing vessel dockside
mooring rope · anchor line · dock line · tie-down · painter
direction of force
tow linesea anchor
Underwater parachute for vessels
drogue · brake line · anchor · snubber · drag line
tow, line, tows, towed, towing, towage, lines, lined, lining