towline

noun

tow·​line ˈtō-ˌlīn How to pronounce towline (audio)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web One of the jet skis sucked up a towline. Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 30 Aug. 2022 The storm caused the towline to snap. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 4 Mar. 2022 The crew aboard the steamer, called Maunaloa, turned their vessel around and tried to reconnect the towline, but the weather had other plans: The massive waves and strong winds slammed the ships together. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022 While Alaparthi and the children were aloft, strong winds prevented them from being winched back to the boat, and Couch cut the towline, the commission said. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 23 Sep. 2022 The two ships encountered a powerful storm, which snapped the towline connecting them, leaving Barge 129 at the mercy of the winds. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022 The towline snapped, causing a collision between the two vessels. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 20 Oct. 2022 The raging storm caused the towline connecting the ships to snap, leaving them at the mercy of Mother Nature. Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. 2022 An arrest warrant accused the captain, Daniel Gavin Couch, 49, of not checking the weather before the May 30 trip and then cutting the towline to his passengers’ parasail during strong winds. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 23 Sep. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'towline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1719, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of towline was in 1719

Dictionary Entries Near towline

Cite this Entry

“Towline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/towline. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

towline

noun
tow·​line ˈtō-ˌlīn How to pronounce towline (audio)
: a line used in towing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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