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hawser

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haw⋅ser

  [haw-zer, -ser]
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–noun Nautical.
a heavy rope for mooring or towing.
Origin:
1300–50; ME haucer < AF hauceour, equiv. to MF hauci(er) to hoist (< LL *altiāre to raise, deriv. of L altus high; see haughty ) + -our -or 2 , -er 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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haw·ser   (hô'zər)   
n.  A cable or rope used in mooring or towing a ship.

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman haucer, from Old French haucier, to hoist, from Vulgar Latin *altiāre, alteration of Late Latin altāre, from Latin altus, high; see al-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hawser 
"large rope used for mooring, towing, etc.," 1294, from Anglo-Fr. haucer, from O.Fr. halcier, lit. "hoister," from V.L. *altiare, alteration of L.L. altare "make high," from altus "high" (see old). Altered in Eng. on mistaken association with hawse (from O.E. hals "prow of a ship," from the Gmc. word for "neck") and the hauling of boats.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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