From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tug \Tug\, v. i.
1. To pull with great effort; to strain in labor; as, to tug
at the oar; to tug against the stream.
[1913 Webster]
He tugged, he shook, till down they came. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. To labor; to strive; to struggle.
[1913 Webster]
England now is left
To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth
The unowed interest of proud-swelling state. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tug \Tug\, n.
1. A pull with the utmost effort, as in the athletic contest
called tug of war; a supreme effort.
[1913 Webster]
At the tug he falls,
Vast ruins come along, rent from the smoking walls.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. A sort of vehicle, used for conveying timber and heavy
articles. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Naut.) A small, powerful steamboat used to tow vessels;
-- called also steam tug, tugboat, and towboat.
[1913 Webster]
4. A trace, or drawing strap, of a harness.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Mining.) An iron hook of a hoisting tub, to which a
tackle is affixed.
[1913 Webster]
Tug iron, an iron hook or button to which a tug or trace
may be attached, as on the shaft of a wagon.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tug \Tug\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tugged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Tugging.] [OE. toggen; akin to OD. tocken to entice, G.
zucken to jerk, draw, Icel. toga to draw, AS. t['e]on, p. p.
togen, to draw, G. ziehen, OHG. ziohan, Goth. tiuhan, L.
ducere to lead, draw. Cf. Duke, Team, Tie, v. t.,
Touch, Tow, v. t., Tuck to press in, Toy a
plaything.]
1. To pull or draw with great effort; to draw along with
continued exertion; to haul along; to tow; as, to tug a
loaded cart; to tug a ship into port.
[1913 Webster]
There sweat, there strain, tug the laborious oar.
--Roscommon.
[1913 Webster]
2. To pull; to pluck. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
To ease the pain,
His tugged cars suffered with a strain. --Hudibras.
[1913 Webster]