towpath

[ toh-path, -pahth ]

/ ˈtoʊˌpæθ, -ˌpɑθ /

a path along the bank of a canal or river, for use in towing boats.

Origin of towpath

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; tow¹ + path

townspeople, townsville, townswoman, townwear, towny, towpath, towrope, towsack, towser, towson, towy

On and on they went, stumbling and flying through the moonlit wood to the towpath.

Diane of the Green Van |Leona Dalrymple
The mules took fright, got into a regular mixup, broke the harness, and went up the towpath at a two-forty gait.

Ox-Team Days on the Oregon Trail |Ezra Meeker
A farmer rode down the towpath and invited us to go to his house for the night.

Sometub's Cruise on the C. & O. Canal |John Pryor Cowan
On either side of the towpath were farms and gardens, with a house set here and there amid the green fields or orchards.

The Corner House Girls on a Houseboat |Grace Brooks Hill

Then in deadly silence Mr. Poynter reduced his treacherous assailant to a battered hulk upon the towpath.

Diane of the Green Van |Leona Dalrymple

towpath

/ (ˈtəʊˌpɑːθ) /

a path beside a canal or river, used by people or animals towing boats Also called: towing path