[f. TOW v.1 or sb.4 + LINE sb.2] A line, rope, or hawser by which anything is towed; spec. in Whaling, the whale-line.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. ix. 204. Taking the end of a tow-line in his hand. Ibid. (1725), Voy. round World (1840), 347. The greatest difficulty was for tow-lines to draw the boats by.
1799. Maryland Gaz., 3 Oct., 1/3 In this situation my mate applied to the master of the vessel for leave to put on a tow line, which he scornfully refused.
1839. Marryat, Phant. Ship, xvii. The boats had cast off the tow-lines.
1881. Times, 20 June, 6/5. The tow-lines of the tugs were made fast to the barque.
