tugboat
[tuhg-boht]
- a small, powerful boat for towing or pushing ships, barges, etc.
Origin of tugboat
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tugboat
Contemporary Examples
A tugboat improbably sits high on the bank, obscured by tall grass, a broken oil rig hangs over the water nearby.
After airstrikes began, Libyan armed men seized an Italian tugboat in Tripoli used to service the coastal oil platforms.
Historical Examples
It was an odd defiance, a tugboat's challenge to a German battle line.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
Martella, I am now ready to join you in capturing the tugboat.
Up the Forked RiverEdward Sylvester Ellis
In fact, it was impossible for them to have done so, but there could be no doubt that they were all on the tugboat.
Up the Forked RiverEdward Sylvester Ellis
No attempt was made on the tugboat to bring the second piece into action.
Up the Forked RiverEdward Sylvester Ellis
This was followed by a cloud of steam that seemed to completely envelop the tugboat.
Randy of the RiverHoratio Alger Jr.
Word Origin and History for tugboat
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper