Obs. Also 6 tewe, (7 towgh, tiew, 9 dial. tow). [Not known before 15th c.: app. corresp. to WFris. túch, late MDu., mod.Du. tuig, MLG., LG. tüch, MHG. ziuc, Ger. zeug, apparatus, gear, tools, utensils, implements, tackle: f. ablaut stem tiug- of *tiuhan to draw, lead (TEE v.1).]
1. Fishing-tackle; nets, fishing-lines, etc.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 490/1. Tew, of fyschynge, piscalia, in plurali, retiaria [MS. reci-].
1529. Will J. Thomson (Somerset Ho.). A mansfare of all tewe except sperlyn nett.
1619. Fletcher, M. Thomas, I. iii. Dor. … The fool shall now fish for himself. Alice. Be sure then His tewgh be tith and strong:… He’l catch no fish else.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 246. Also that they shall be honest and true … being asked concerning the length and depth of their ropes or tewes when they are in driuing; neither shall they wittingly … suffer their tewes to flit and run ouer one another.
fig. 1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxix. (1612), 144. She [Queen Catharine 14[?].] pitched Tewe, he [Owen Tudor] masshed. Ibid. (1602), Epit. 391. This Cardinall, conspiring with Willian de la Poole,… pitched their Tew to intangle the same Protector.
1603. Harsnet, Pop. Impost., 12. The groundes of their Art [were] layde sure and a little trying of their Tooles, whether their Tew would holde or no.
2. Implements, tools, materials for work generally; stuff. Also fig.
1616. T. Scott, Philomythie, C vj b. When … all your traines and tew in order laid.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks. (1672), 815. I am not unwilling to communicate unto you the most of my tew, because, I perceive, you make some account of them.
1671. Skinner, Tew,… Instrumentum, Materia, Arma, Armamenta.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 36. Another Argument … which may happily at first blush seem to have more tiew in it than all the stands we have met with hitherto.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Tow,… necessary tools or apparatus for any purpose (pronounced like cow).
1904. Eng. Dial. Dict., Tew,… Obsol. w. Cy. Materials for work.
