towboat

American  

[toh-boht] / ˈtoʊˌboʊt /

noun

1. a diesel-powered or steam-powered boat used especially on inland waterways to push groups of barges lashed to it in front or on one side or both.

2. tugboat.

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towboat British  

/ ˈtəʊˌbəʊt /

noun

1. another word for tug

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Etymology

Origin of towboat

First recorded in 1805–15; tow ¹ + boat

Example Sentences

A towboat struck a rail bridge on a foggy September morning and threw the train tracks out of alignment.

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2024

A Florida towboat business owner got a shock when he saw a black bear hanging out on a catamaran in the harbor of Naples, Florida earlier this week.

From Washington Times • Oct. 6, 2023

For its part, the industry has limited the amount of cargo attached to any single towboat — only up to 25 barges, instead of the typical 40, Calhoun said.

From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2022

Josh, of Mount Vernon, is a fourth-generation towboat captain since 1997, working for years longer as a deckhand, on the water towing barges up and down the Ohio River.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2017

Dad helped me and Abbey aboard the towboat.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen