Obs. Also 8 tue. [app. a derivative or altered form of TOW v., of much later appearance; the phonology is obscure.] trans. To haul, tow (a ship, net, etc.); to drag, pull, tug; = TOW v.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXV. xxx. 571. Marcellus caused a great hulke, laden with armed souldiours, to be fastened by an haling rope unto a gallie…, and so in the night by strength of oares to bee tewed and drawne up after it into Acradina.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., xii. 197. The goodly river Lee … By which the Danes had then their full-fraught navies tew’d. Ibid. (1622), xxv. (1748), 367. The toiling fisher here is tewing of his net.
a. 1693. Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. Prol. 7. He … tugg’d it, tew’d it, carry’d it [a tub].
1706. Baynard, in Sir J. Floyer, Hot & Cold Bath., II. 386. A Sprain … tued, hal’d and wrested by ignorant Bone-setters.
1787. Grose, Provinc. Gloss., To Tew, to pull or tow.
