lug

name

1. Alternative spelling of Lugh.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English lugge (“pole, stick, staff”).

1. A rod or pole.

   “And from the bodies [of pines and oaks] the boughes and loftie lugges they beare.”

2. A measure of length equal to 16+¹⁄₂ feet.

   “eight lugs of grownd; / Into the which returning backe, he fell”

3. A lugsail.
4. The leather loop or ear by which a shaft is held up.
5. A loop (or protuberance) found on both arms of a hinge, featuring a hole for the axis of the hinge.
6. A ridge or other protuberance on the surface of a body to increase traction or provide a hold for holding and moving it.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English luggen, possibly from a Scandinavian/North Germanic source, (compare Swedish lugga, Norwegian lugge); also in English dialectal as lig (“to lug”). Noun is via Scots lugge, probably from Old Norse (compare Norwegian and Swedish lugg). Probably related to slug (“lazy, slow-moving”), which may be from similar source(s).

1. To haul or drag along (especially something heavy); to carry; to pull.

   “Why do you always lug around so many books?”

   “They must divide the image among them, and so lug off every one his share.”

2. To run at too slow a speed.

   “When driving up a hill, choose a lower gear so you don't lug the engine.”

3. To carry an excessive amount of sail for the conditions prevailing.
4. To pull toward the inside rail ("lugging in") or the outside rail ("lugging out") during a race.