Sudden abrupt pull (3)
I believe the answer is:
tug
'sudden abrupt pull' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for tug that I've seen before include "Pull vigorously at or tow" , "water tower" , "Pull sharply" , "Pull like small boat" , "A sharp pull or a towing boat" .)