towel

towel
/tow"euhl, towl/, n., v., toweled, toweling or (esp. Brit.) towelled, towelling.
n.
1. an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping and drying something wet, as one for the hands, face, or body after washing or bathing.
2. throw in the towel, Informal. to concede defeat; give up; yield: He vowed he would never throw in the towel.
v.t.
3. to wipe or dry with a towel.
[1250-1300; ME (n.) < OF toaille cloth for washing or wiping < WGmc *thwahlio ( > OHG dwahilla, akin to dwahal bath); c. Goth thwahl, thweal washing]

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Universalium. 2010.

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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 — 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

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