Associations to the word «Tugboat»

Wiktionary

TUGBOAT, noun. A small, powerful boat (a "tugship" in other languages) used to push or pull barges or to help maneuver larger vessels.

Dictionary definition

TUGBOAT, noun. A powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships.

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats