Towel

Towel
Towel Tow"el, n. [OE. towaille, towail, F. touaille, LL. toacula, of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. dwahila, swahilla, G. zwehle, fr. OHG. dwahan to wash; akin to D. dwaal a towel, AS. [thorn]we['a]n to wash, OS. thwahan, Icel. [thorn]v[=a], Sw. tv[*a], Dan. toe, Goth. [thorn]wahan. Cf. {Doily}.] A cloth used for wiping, especially one used for drying anything wet, as the person after a bath. [1913 Webster]

{Towel gourd} (Bot.), the fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant {Luffa [AE]gyptiaca}; also, the plant itself. The fruit is very fibrous, and, when separated from its rind and seeds, is used as a sponge or towel. Called also {Egyptian bath sponge}, and {dishcloth}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • towel — [tou′əl] n. [ME towaille < OFr toaille (Fr touaille) < Frank * thwahlja, akin to OHG dwahila, towel < dwahan, to wash < IE base * twak , to bathe > OProv twaxtan, bath towel] a piece of absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying …   English World dictionary

  • towel — towel; towel·ette; …   English syllables

  • towel — ► NOUN ▪ a piece of thick absorbent cloth or paper used for drying. ► VERB (towelled, towelling; US toweled, toweling) ▪ dry with a towel. ORIGIN Old French toaille …   English terms dictionary

  • Towel — Tow el, v. t. To beat with a stick. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Towel — (Judenth.), so v.w. Tauwel …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • towel — has inflected forms towelled, towelling in BrE, and usually toweled, toweling in AmE …   Modern English usage

  • Towel — For the surname, see Towell. A towel is a piece of absorbent fabric or paper used for drying or wiping. It draws moisture through direct contact, often using a blotting or a rubbing motion. Common household textile towels are made from cotton,… …   Wikipedia

  • towel — tow|el1 [ˈtauəl] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: toaille] a piece of cloth that you use for drying your skin or for drying things such as dishes ▪ Have you got a clean towel I could use? bath/beach/kitchen towel ▪ She dried her hands on …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • towel — n. cloth, paper for drying 1) a bath; dish (AE), tea (esp. BE); face; guest; hand; linen; paper; roller; Turkish towel 2) a sanitary towel (BE; AE has sanitary napkin) 3) a disposable towel symbol of surrender 4) to throw, toss in the towel * * * …   Combinatory dictionary

  • towel — [[t]ta͟ʊəl[/t]] towels, towelling, towelled (in AM, use toweling, toweled) 1) N COUNT A towel is a piece of thick soft cloth that you use to dry yourself. ...a bath towel. 2) VERB If you towel something or towel it dry, you dry it with a towel.… …   English dictionary

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