intransitive verb tugged, tugging tug′·ging

1. to exert great effort in pulling; pull hard; drag; haul: often with at
2. to labor; toil; struggle

Etymology: ME tuggen, prob. < ON toga, to draw, pull, akin to OE togian (see tow), teon, to pull < IE base *deuk-, to draw, pull > duct

transitive verb

1. to pull at with great force; strain at
2. to drag; haul
3. to tow with a tugboat

noun

1. an act or instance of tugging; hard pull
2. a great effort or strenuous contest
3. a rope, chain, etc. used for tugging or pulling; esp., a trace of a harness
4. tugboat