lug

1 of 3

verb

ˈləg 

lugged; lugging

transitive verb

1

: drag, pull

2

: to carry laboriously

lugged the bags to the car

3

: to introduce in a forced manner

lugs my name into the argument

intransitive verb

1

: to pull with effort : tug

2

: to move heavily or by jerks

the car lugs on hills

3

of a racehorse : to swerve from the course toward or away from the inside rail

lug

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

archaic

a

: an act of lugging

b

: something that is lugged

c

: a shipping container for produce

2

: lugsail

3

lugs plural : superior airs or affectations

put on lugs

4

slang : an exaction of money

—used in the phrase put the lug on

lug

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: something (such as a handle) that projects like an ear: such as

a

: a leather loop on a harness saddle through which the shaft passes

b

: a metal fitting to which electrical wires are soldered or connected

2

chiefly British : ear

3

: a ridge (as on the bottom of a shoe) to increase traction

4

: a nut used to secure a wheel on an automotive vehicle

called also lug nut

5

a

: a big clumsy fellow

b

: an ordinary commonplace person

Synonyms

Verb

• drag
• draw
• hale
• haul
• pull
• tow
• tug

Noun (2)

• clod
• clodhopper
• gawk
• hulk
• lout
• lubber
• lump
• Neanderthal
• oaf
• palooka

Examples of lug in a Sentence

Verb

She had to lug her suitcases out to the car by herself.

I was lugging a heavy camera around all day.

Noun (2)

get off of my feet, you big lug!

the billionaire industrialist was totally clueless about the concerns of the blue-collar lugs that worked for him

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

During Koerner's stint at the North Rim, a ranger persuaded him to lug his 250-pound digital acoustic hybrid piano to Cape Royal, a promontory overlooking the canyon. —Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024

Keep scrolling to shop other affordable loafers for travel, like metallic silver and lug sole platform pairs that can complete your outfits throughout the busy travel season. —Kelsey Fredricks, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

These five-star boots boast a durable lug sole that provides traction on slick surfaces, while the shearling lining acts as a cozy barrier against chilly flight cabins and dropping temperatures. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024

Unlike other boots of this style, these are comfortable from the very first wear—no break-in period required—and have impeccable traction thanks to chunky rubber lugs, which kept us stable on ice and snow but didn’t hold onto mud. —Svati Kirsten Narula, Outside Online, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English luggen to pull by the hair or ear, drag, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian lugga to pull by the hair

Noun (2)

Middle English (Scots) lugge, perhaps from Middle English luggen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lug

1 of 2 verb

ˈləg 

lugged; lugging

: to pull or carry especially with great effort

lug

2 of 2 noun

1

: a part (as a handle) that projects like an ear

2

: a nut used to hold a wheel on an automotive vehicle

3

a

: a big clumsy fellow

b

: an ordinary commonplace person