Towropes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Strong lengths of rope used to pull vessels, vehicles or other heavy loads along behind another object
2. Heavy cords fastened to a boat or car so that it can be drawn along by another vehicle or animal
3. Thick ropes employed for hauling or dragging boats, carts and similar objects from one place to another

Etymology: "Towropes" is the plural of "towrope," a rope used to pull a boat, barge, or other vessel along behind something else. The noun is built from two plain English words: "tow," which goes back to Old English "togian," meaning to drag or pull, and "rope," an ordinary Germanic word for a thick cord. Put together, the compound describes exactly what it does, a rope for towing.

Synonyms: towrope, towline, tow cable