Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A path along a canal or river used by animals towing boats.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The path on the bank of a canal or river along which draft-animals travel when towing boats.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A path traveled by men or animals in towing boats; -- called also towing path.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a path alongside a canal or river, originally for horses towing barges, now more often used as a footpath

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a path along a canal or river used by animals towing boats

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I finally went for a walk along the canal towpath, which is indeed very beautiful, and only a few minutes outside Princeton!

    And after that... Ra 2009

  • I finally went for a walk along the canal towpath, which is indeed very beautiful, and only a few minutes outside Princeton!

    Archive 2009-07-01 Ra 2009

  • Then nothing but the towpath, which is the path on one side of the canal where the mules walk when they drag the canal boats.

    W. A. G.'s Tale Margaret Turnbull

  • "To me, the towpath is a highway for potential customers," Kay said.

    The Frederick News-Post : Local News 2010

  • Commuting any distance daily to work in the boat wasn't on; bicycle along the towpath was the transport of choice.

    The Guardian World News 2010

  • And if you are looking for an easy (but beautiful!) hike, try hiking the Potomac Heritage Trail from the Key Bridge to the Chain Bridge and then cross the Chain Bridge and return via the C&O Canal towpath.

    Going Out Guide: Leaf-peeping, pizza places, cafes and dinner near the Avalon Post 2010

  • Soon we'll be visiting the Cathedral in Reims, touring the cellars of world-class Champagne houses, strolling the towpath and walking the Chemin des Dames, the women's way.

    Anne Z. Cooke: Love and Luxe On a Barge In Champagne Anne Z. Cooke 2011

  • Soon we'll be visiting the Cathedral in Reims, touring the cellars of world-class Champagne houses, strolling the towpath and walking the Chemin des Dames, the women's way.

    Anne Z. Cooke: Love and Luxe On a Barge In Champagne Anne Z. Cooke 2011

  • Overview: “Stretching 136 miles from Cumberland, Md., to Duquesne, Pa., the trail links to the C&O Canal towpath that starts in Washington, D.C., creating a blissfully traffic-free cyclists 'haven.”

    FH Boom Daily Digest - October 9, 2009 (The Boomer Blog) 2009

  • Overview: “Stretching 136 miles from Cumberland, Md., to Duquesne, Pa., the trail links to the C&O Canal towpath that starts in Washington, D.C., creating a blissfully traffic-free cyclists 'haven.”

    The Boomer Blog: October 2009 Archives 2009

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  • Here a young couple asked me today

    how far to the next place along the towpath

    where they might veer to the shops on a fleeting visit.

    - Peter Reading, Early Closing, from For the Municipality's Elderly, 1974

    June 22, 2008