lug

¹ American  

[luhg] / lʌg /

verb (used with object)

lugged, lugging

1. to pull or carry with force or effort.

   to lug a suitcase upstairs.

2. to introduce or interject in an inappropriate or irrelevant manner.

   to lug personalities into a discussion of philosophy.

3. (of a sailing ship) to carry an excessive amount of (sail) for the conditions prevailing.

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verb (used without object)

lugged, lugging

1. to pull or tug laboriously.

2. (of an engine or machine) to jerk, hesitate, or strain.

   The engine lugs when we climb a steep hill.

noun

1. an act or instance of lugging; a forcible pull; haul.

2. a wooden box for transporting fruit or vegetables.

3. Slang. a request for or exaction of money, as for political purposes.

   They put the lug on him at the office.

lug ² American  

[luhg] / lʌg /

noun

1. a projecting piece by which anything is held or supported.

2. a ridge or welt that helps to provide traction, as on a tire or the sole of a shoe.

3. Masonry. either of the ends of a lug sill.

4. Carpentry. (in a double-hung window) one of a pair of projections extending downward from the ends of the meeting rail of the upper sash.

5. a leather loop hanging down from a saddle, through which a shaft is passed for support.

6. Shipbuilding. clip.

7. Slang.

   1. an awkward, clumsy fellow.

   2. a blockhead.

   3. a man; guy.

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lug ³ American  

[luhg] / lʌg /

noun

1. lugsail.

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lug ⁴ American  

[luhg] / lʌg /

noun

1. lugworm.

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Lug ⁵ American  

[lookh] / lʊx /

noun

1. an ancient Irish god, probably a solar deity.

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lug ¹ British  

/ lʌɡ /

noun

1. a projecting piece by which something is connected, supported, or lifted

2. Also called: tug.  a leather loop used in harness for various purposes

3. a box or basket for vegetables or fruit with a capacity of 28 to 40 pounds

4. dialect another word for ear 1

5. slang a man, esp a stupid or awkward one

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lug ² British  

/ lʌɡ /

verb

1. to carry or drag (something heavy) with great effort

2. (tr) to introduce (an irrelevant topic) into a conversation or discussion

3. (tr) (of a sailing vessel) to carry too much (sail) for the amount of wind blowing

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noun

1. the act or an instance of lugging

lug ³ British  

/ lʌɡ /

noun

1. nautical short for lugsail

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lug ⁴ British  

/ lʌɡ /

noun

1. short for lugworm

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Other Word Forms

• unlugged adjective

Etymology

Origin of lug¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English luggen, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian lugge, Swedish lugga “to pull by the hair”

Origin of lug²

First recorded in 1485–95; from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish lugg “forelock”; lug ¹

Origin of lug³

By shortening

Origin of lug⁴

First recorded in 1595–1605; earlier lugg; perhaps special use of lug ²

Example Sentences

Filmed at night, it shows the star and a group of others lugging duffel bags and equipment towards the Hollywood sign.

From BBC

You don’t want to end up like this lost soul, lugging his giant gambles through the hellscape of his own mind:

From The Wall Street Journal

When she finally emerged, she was lugging a heavy woolen cloak.

From Literature

Anecdotal data suggest there is also an exodus of regular people who load their belongings into rental trucks and lug them to another state.

From Los Angeles Times

Reduced to lugging boxes in a retail store, he longs to get back into the paper game he thought he played so successfully for 25 years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• carry
• ferry
• haul
• heave
• tote
• tow