towboat

noun

tow·​boat ˈtō-ˌbōt How to pronounce towboat (audio)
1
2
: a compact shallow-draft boat with a squared bow designed and fitted for pushing tows of barges on inland waterways

Examples of towboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In some spots, towboats could not reach granary ports. USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023 In a normal year, a 10,000-horsepower towboat on portions of the lower Mississippi might push as many as 42 barges at once. USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023 Especially when Christian was on the towboat. Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 4 Sep. 2021 Both the barge and towboat were built in 1955. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2022 Last year, The Boat House showed off a Super Air Nautique GS22E, a mulit-sport electric towboat. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2023 Today’s ferry is a three-car barge named the Hollister III pulled by a diesel towboat named the Cumberland. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2022 As Clemente captains the towboat, Salvatore Carta helps guide passengers and cars onboard the barge. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2022 Coast Guard teams have now found five bodies in all after one survivor was found on Tuesday by a passing towboat in the area. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'towboat.' 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

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of towboat was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near towboat

Cite this Entry

“Towboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/towboat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

towboat

noun
tow·​boat ˈtō-ˌbōt How to pronounce towboat (audio)
1
2
: a compact shallow-draft boat for pushing barges on inland waterways

More from Merriam-Webster on towboat

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!