ENGLISH
REFERENCE

towel

n. · v.
US //ˈtaʊəɫ// UK //tˈaʊəl// tow·el
  1. 1 drying cloth (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a piece of thick, soft cloth or paper used for drying your body or a surface.

    an absorbent cloth or paper sheet used for drying or wiping, especially after bathing or washing.

    Example

    She grabbed a fresh towel from the cupboard after her shower.

    Example

    The spa provides guests with thick, heated towels and cotton robes to ensure maximum comfort after their treatments.
  2. 2 to hit with a towel (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal

    to hit someone with a towel, often by snapping it quickly.

    to strike someone with a towel, typically as a prank or a form of horseplay. Informal in register.

    Example

    The boys were towelling each other in the locker room after practice.

    Example

    The coach reprimanded the players for towelling one another in the changing rooms, citing safety concerns.
Origin

From Middle English towayle, towel, towail, towaille, from Old French toaille (“towel”) (modern French touaille), Medieval Latin toallia, from Frankish þwahilu (“cloth”), from Proto-Germanic þwahaną (“to wash”). Cognate with Old High German dwahila (“towel”) (modern dialectal German Zwehle), Dutch dwaal (“towel”), dweil (“mop”), Low German Dweel (“towel”), Old English þwǣle (“band; ribbon; fillet”), Old English þwēan (“to wash”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms1 entry

Last updated June 20, 2026