means To pull something with a short, firm, often repeated effort — or the act of doing so; also a small powerful boat that hauls larger vessels.

from From Middle English 'toggen,' to pull or drag, related to Old English 'teon' (to draw) and a cousin of the Germanic root behind 'tow' and even 'tug' in the sense of harness. The same family stretches back toward the idea of drawing or hauling — so the muscular little harbour boat earned its name honestly, by doing exactly what the word has always meant: pull, and pull again.