Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
towline

towline

1 5.1
A rope used to pull a vehicle or boat
  • noun
  • /ˈtoʊlaɪn/
translation icon : cabo de remolque
  • A strong towline is essential for safely pulling the stranded vehicle out of the mud.
  • an emergency towline

Examples

  • The Butterfield started reeling in the towline to draw the Ontario closer.

    Blog text (26)

  • Undo the towline, Cory!

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Father sat at the end of the towline, his back to us.

    The Mosquito Coast (1986)

  • We gotta hook up a towline.

    Captain Phillips (2013)

  • You reckon we could rig up a towline and pull them along the bank?

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "We'd better stretch a towline," Runar said.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The divers position themselves 20-30 feet apart on opposite sides of the towline.

    Academic text (1991)

  • They were all tired, but she made them bring supplies over to Kittiwake and then put the boat on a towline.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • For a nylon towline, the size ranges from 3/8 to 3/4 inches.

    Academic text (1991)

  • - Where's that towline?

    Piranha (1978)

Synonyms

line
vstowline
∞ 1.1

A long thin rope or wire used to carry things

is specifically for pulling vehicles ships or objects
painter
vstowline
3 9.1

A rope attached to the front of a boat used to tie it up or tow it

is used more generally and not only at a boat's bow
hawser
vstowline
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A thick strong rope used to tie or pull a ship

is thinner and fits general pulling of vehicles and objects
towing rope
vstowline
2.8

A strong rope that people use to pull a car or boat

is the general rope for pulling any vehicle ship or object
towrope
vstowline
4.5

A strong rope that you use to pull a car or boat

is similar but used across many pulling situations
towing line
vstowline
2.8

A strong rope or cable used to pull something, often a boat

is not limited to sea use and covers various vehicles

How Strong

hawser
  • Specialized
1 9.9
cable
  • Specialized
282 2.4
towline
1 5.1
rope
614 1.0
line
∞ 1.1
cord
176 1.0

Surface Forms

towline singular
towlines plural

Morphology

towline = tow + line (transparent) = tow + line

The meaning is directly the combination of 'tow' + 'line' (a line used for towing), which is clear to learners who know the component words.

Etymology

Towline is simply two parts: tow meaning 'to pull', as in tow truck, and line meaning 'rope' or 'long cord'. So a towline is literally the rope you use to pull a car, boat, or other object.