tugboat

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A small, powerful boat used to push or pull barges or to help maneuver larger vessels.
  2. A Social Security Disability Insurance payment; monthly tugboat

Pronunciation

/ˈtʌɡbəʊt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-tugboat.wav /ˈtʌɡboʊt/

Word forms

tugboat tugboats tug-boat tug boat

Etymology

From tug + boat. Sense 2 from monthly tugboat, a reference to the saying "our ship has come in," here referring to a small, "reliable" "tugboat" instead of a large windfall.

Synonyms

tug

Derived words

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