Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tow” come from?

Tow comes from Middle English towen, from Old English togian, from Old English tēon, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to pull or lead.

tow (English): To pull something behind one using a line or...

Definitions

  1. To pull something behind one using a line or...

Ancestry of “tow”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtowen—
2Old Englishtogianto tow
3Proto-Germanictugōnąto pull, tow
4Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “tow”

  • undertow
  • towpath
  • towline
  • towboat
  • towage
  • towheaded
  • towrope
  • towhead
  • towfish
  • towtruck
  • towee
  • towable
  • towy
  • towaway
  • towsack
  • towship
  • tow truck
  • towmaster
  • towboater
  • towback
  • toa
  • taue
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →