DictionarytowCoarse plant fiber
noun

tow

Coarse flax or hemp fiber.

The spinner separates the coarse tow from the finer fibers.

Etymology

The Old English word already named fibrous material. Modern tow identifies the coarse flax or hemp fibers separated during preparation.

More examples

  • A bundle of tow lay beside the wheel.
  • The workshop used tow to demonstrate rough fiber spinning.
  • She packed the gap with loose tow.

Forms

tow

Similar words

coarse fiber
The material description.