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towelling

 - 6 dictionary results

tow⋅el

[tou-uhl, toul] noun, verb, -eled, -el⋅ing or (especially British) -elled, -el⋅ling.
–noun
1. an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping and drying something wet, as one for the hands, face, or body after washing or bathing.
–verb (used with object)
2. to wipe or dry with a towel.
3. throw in the towel, Informal. to concede defeat; give up; yield: He vowed he would never throw in the towel.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME (n.) < OF toaille cloth for washing or wiping < WGmc *thwahliō (> OHG dwahilla, akin to dwahal bath); c. Goth thwahl, thwēal washing

tow⋅el⋅ing

[tou-uh-ling, tou-ling]
–noun
a narrow fabric of cotton or linen, in plain, twill, or huck weave, used for hand towels or dishtowels.
Also, especially British, tow⋅el⋅ling.


Origin:
1575–85; towel + -ing 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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tow·el   (tou'əl)   
n.  A piece of absorbent cloth or paper used for wiping or drying.
v.   tow·eled or tow·elled, tow·el·ing or tow·el·ling, tow·els

v.   tr.
To wipe or rub dry with a towel.
v.   intr.
To dry oneself with a towel.

[Middle English towaille, from Old French toaille, of Germanic origin.]
tow·el·ing also tow·el·ling   (tou'ə-lĭng, tou'lĭng)   
n.  Any of various fabrics of cotton or linen used for making towels.
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

towel  (n.)
1284, from O.Fr. toaille (12c.), from Frank. *thwahlja, from P.Gmc. *thwakhlijon (cf. O.S. thwahila, M.Du. dwale "towel," Du. dwaal "altar cloth," O.H.G. dwehila "towel," Ger. dial. Zwehle "napkin"); related to Ger. zwagen, O.E. þwean "to wash." Sp. toalla, It. tovaglia are Gmc. loan-words. The verb is first recorded 1836. Towelette is recorded from 1902.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: tow·el
Pronunciation: 'tau(-&)l
Function: noun
1 : an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying
2 British : SANITARY NAPKIN
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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