[f. TUG v. + -ER1.] One who tugs or pulls with force; spec. one who pulls in a tug-of-war (colloq.).
1611. Cotgr., Tireur, a drawer, puller,… tugger.
a. 1624. Bp. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 243. Being vnequally yoked with a tugger.
1852. Bristol Mercury, 31 July, 8/1. The ‘tuggers’ of the two candidates were merely described as a ‘swweating, swearing contingency of the sovereign people.’
1909. Athenæum, 13 March, 315/1. The strain from without slackened, and … the victorious tuggers fell on their backs.
