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
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.
There sweat, there strain, tug the laborious oar.
2. To pull; to pluck. [Obs.]
To ease the pain,
His tugged cars suffered with a strain. --Hudibras.