Etymology dictionary. 2014.
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 — 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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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
