TUG (2)

Tug, v. i. 1. 1. To pull with great effort; to strain in labor; as, to tug at the oar; to tug against the stream.
He tugged, he shook, till down they came. Milton. 2. 2. To labor; to strive; to struggle.
England now is left To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth The unowed interest of proud-swelling state. Shak.