toweln.
/ˈtaʊəl/ 1.
a. A cloth, usually of linen or hemp, for wiping something dry, esp. for wiping the hands, face, or person after washing or bathing. Also formerly more widely, including a table-napkin or other cloth used at meals.Often with prefix indicating its particular use, as bath-towel, dish-towel, face-towel, glass-towel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > rubbing with towel > towel
towel?1284
diapera1616
twell1837
towelling1845
α. Middle English towaille, Middle English touwayle, ( thoayle, thoyale), Middle English towaile, -ayle, Middle English tow-, touaylle, towail, -ayl, -ayle ( tavayle).
β. Middle English towele, Middle English touel, Middle English–1500s towelle, -all, Middle English–1600s towell, (Middle English toual, towale, towylle, 1500s touall, towle); Middle English– towel.?1284Toweles [see sense 2a]. 1378 in Test. Karl. (1893) 118 ij lectos, ij dorclaes, ij towels. a14001Touel [see γ. ]. a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 3877 Thai set forth water and towell, Herkens now, how if befell!1407–8 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1901) III. 607 54 uln. panni linei emp...pro towales.1466 Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls (Bundle 42, No. 6) Towylles.1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccxxxviiv On his meate borde there shal ben borde clothes and towelles many payre. 1542Towle [see sense 2a]. 1557 in G. J. Piccope Lancs. & Cheshire Wills (1857) I. 71 The best bason and ewer and also the best towall.15.. in F. J. Furnivall R. Laneham's Let. (1871) Pref. 31 Ane touall off Alifyne.1616 B. Jonson Epicœne iv. v, in Wks. I. 579 I will strangle him in this towell . View more context for this quotationa1658 J. Cleveland Mary's Spikenard 31 For a Towel he shall have My hair, such flax as nature gave.1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Mar. (1965) I. 383 After Dinner water was brought in a Gold bason and towels of the same kind of the napkins.1808 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 19 112 His body to be well rubbed by two persons with coarse towels.1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 563 Wading across to the bank, I wring out my skirts, but what is life without a towel?γ. Middle English tueil, Middle English tuel, -ell, Middle English tuayl(e, -ale, tewelle, Middle English–1500s tewell, ( 1700s–1800s Scottish and northern dialect tooel, tool).a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15285 Wit a tuell [Gött. tuel, Fairf. touel, Trin. Cambr. twaile] he belted him.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15299 Wit his tueil efterward þair fete he weped clene.c1450 Brut ccxli. 352 Þai..caste þe tewellys aboute þe Dukis nek..and þan þei drowen her towellis eche wayez.1494 in F. W. Weaver Somerset Medieval Wills (1901) 323 A Mete cloth and iij tuels. 1496 [see sense 2a]. 1504 [see sense 2a]. 1727 P. Walker Some Remarkable Passages Semple, Welwood & Cameron 52 He dried his Face and Hands with a Tool.1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 209/2 [Westmorland] Tooel.δ. Middle English twayle, Middle English twaylle, twaile, Middle English–1500s twell.a1300Twayle [see sense 2a]. c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 285 Þenne comen two Angeles wiþ twayles white. a14001Twaile [see γ. ]. 1422–3 Abingdon Rolls (Camden) 92 In twellis emptis pro Refectorio xj s. 1507Twell [see sense 2a]. ε. Middle English towaly, twaly, tualy.c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 498/2 Towayl, or towaly (S. twaly.., A. tuayl or tualy), manitergium.a1300 Floriz & Bl. 563 Þat oþer bringe towaille and bacin For to wasse his honden in.
13.. Shoreham i. 1387 Þo hym wyþ a schete [margin. touwayle] ihesus After soper bygerte.
c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 755 And Phebus eek a fair towaille [v.rr. towayle, towail, towale, towel] hym broughte To dryen hym with.
1395 Will of Alicia Thornholm (Guildhall Libr. MS 9171/1) f. 346B Thoayle wt a blak lyst, borthcloth cum vna thoyale accordyngg.
a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 3220 On a towaile ȝhe [= she] made knotte riding.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxiii. 250 Whan þei han eten, þei wypen hire hondes vpon hire skirtes, for þei vse non naperye, ne towaylles.
c1435 in C. L. Kingsford Chron. London (1905) 18 The goode Duk off Gloucetre..was ffoule mordred at Caleys with ij Tovaylles..putte aboute his nekke.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 498/2 Towayl (H. towayle or tavayle)..manitergium.
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 131 Towails playne vj.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xiv. 225 The maiden her-silf wosh his visage..and dried it full softely with a towaile.
b. to throw (chuck, or toss) in the towel: to admit defeat. Originally Boxing. Cf. sponge n.1 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] > give way or give in
benda1400
sink?a1513
to give over1530
to cry creak?1562
yield1576
to hold up1596
succumb1604
to give in1616
to hoist, lower, strike the topsaila1629
to cry cravena1634
to give up or cross the cudgels1654
incumb1656
to fall in1667
to knock under1670
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
to strike underc1730
knuckle down1735
to throw (also chuck) up the sponge1860
chuck up (the sponge)1864
to throw in one's hand1893
to sky the wipe (or towel)1907
to drop one's bundle1915
to throw (chuck, or toss) in the towel1915
to buckle up1927
1915 E. Corri Thirty Years Boxing Referee 223 In the nineteenth round Storbeck's seconds ‘threw the towel’ in literally.
1916 C. J. Dennis Moods of Ginger Mick 132 I've done me limit, an' tossed in the tow'l.
1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves xv. 192 He had found the going too hard and had chucked in the towel.
1952 J. Cleary Sundowners iii. 186 You ain't dingoing it, are you? You can't toss in the towel now.
1979 M. Russell Touchdown ii. 90 ‘Don't give up.’.. ‘Have no fear... I shan't throw in the towel, I promise you.’
2. Applied to cloths for various other purposes.† b. A cloth used as a part of dress, e.g. as a head-dress, a girdle, etc. Obsolete.
a. Christian Church. A cloth, either of linen for use at communion, or of silk or other rich material for covering the altar at other times; also, a communion-cloth (see quot. 1737, and quot. 1866 for communion cloth n. at communion n. Compounds 2). Cf. French tavaïolle. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > cloths, carpets, cushions > cloth (general) > altar cloth > [noun]
altar clotha1200
towel?1284
riddelc1380
communion cloth1573
society > faith > artefacts > cloths, carpets, cushions > cloth (general) > eucharistic cloth > [noun]
altar clotha1200
corporasc1200
towel?1284
corporal1381
sindon?1553
offertory1725
chrismal1845
?1284 in Shropshire Archæol. Soc. Trans. (1878) 1 358 Item ij. Toweles pro ij. altariis cum apparatu precii xij s. iiij d.
a1300 in T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 18 Apr. II. 187 Tham that this Cherche, honour with book, with bell, with vestiments, with twayle.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 11 No womman schulde handle þe towayles of þe auȝter.
1474 Will of Cicille Selly (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/6) f. 117 Howseling towell.
1496 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 21 A tuell of dyapper.
1504 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 27 ij tewells.
1507 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 29 A twell of dyaper.
1542 in Archaeologia 46 217 Paid for a new dextclothe & a towle xj d.
c1550 in F. B. Palliser tr. J. Labarte Handbk. Arts Middle Ages & Renaissance (1855) ii. 91 A blest towell for the high altar, of black silk.
1623 Man. Prayers in Month Oct. (1911) 340 If any be to communicate at Mass, the Servitour after the Priest hath taken the Chalice and before he purifieth it, spreadeth a towel or a white vele before them and then sayeth Confiteor Deo in their name.
1737 R. Challoner Catholick Christian Instructed v. 66 Such of the people as are to communicate..taking the Towel, hold it before their Breasts, in such manner, that if in communicating it should happen that any Particle should fall, it may..be received upon the Towel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > cloth used as part of dress
towel?a1366
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 161 Hir heed y-writhen was, y-wis, Ful grymly with a greet towayle.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Paris & Vienne (1957) 69 Mantellys and towellys.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias i. xii. 29 b The King of Mylynde came..to our Fleete, apparelled in a Cassocke of Crimson Damaske, lined with greene satten, hauing vpon his head a rich towell.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 63 Shashes are long towels of Callico wound about their heads.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 146 The coat..ingirted with a towell of silke and gold eight or nine yards long.
c. = sanitary towel n. at sanitary adj. Compounds. Also elliptical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning or cleanliness of the person > [noun] > sanitary protection > sanitary towel
rag1606
jam-rag1869
napkin1873
pad1881
sanitary towel1881
towel1896
sanitary napkin1917
sanitary pad1926
bloodclaat1956
bumboclaat1967
1896 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Aug. (Advts. section) 8/2 A sample of the improved ‘towel’ will be sent free to any lady applying to the Lady Manager.
1907 Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 1264 Full-sized towels reduced by pressure, packed in tiny boxes.
1979 Guardian 27 Mar. 9/5 A campaign for free sanitary protection through the NHS started in 1973 when the Government imposed VAT on towels and tampons.
3. slang. oaken towel, also simply towel, a stick, cudgel (cf. towel v. 2); lead towel, a bullet.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > club or stick > [noun]
sowelc893
treec893
cudgelc897
stinga900
bat?c1225
sticka1275
clubc1275
truncheon14..
bourdonc1325
bastona1400
warderera1400
plantc1400
kibble1411
playloomc1440
hurlbatc1450
ploykc1450
rung1491
libberlac1500
waster1533
batonc1550
macana1555
libbet1562
bastinado1574
crab-tree comb1593
tomahawkc1612
billeta1616
wiper1622
batoon1637
gibbeta1640
crab-bat1647
kibbo1688
Indian club1694
batterdasher1696
crab-stick1703
bloodwipea1705
bludgeon1730
kierie1731
oaken towel1739
crab1740
shillelagh1772
knobstick1783
pogamogganc1788
whirlbat1791
nulla-nulla1798
waddy1800
kevel1807
supple1815
mere1820
hurlet1825
knobkerrie1826
blackthorn1829
bastera1833
twig1842
leangle1845
alpeen1847
banger1849
billy1856
thwack-stave1857
clump1868
cosh1869
nulla1878
sap1899
waddy1899
blunt instrument1923
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > bullet or shell > bullet
bullet1579
lead1598
slug1622
lead towel1812
blue pill1834
1739 Joe Miller's Jests (1745) 73 The Farmer..rear'd his Oaken Towel, and..gave him two..Drubs on the Shoulder.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. iii. 15 I shall rub you down with an oaken towel.
1756 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans II. 128 Brandishing his stick [he] cried aloud, ‘this towel..should bastinado the bones of that rascal Tom Throw’.
1812 H. Smith & J. Smith Rejected Addr. 111 Make Nunky surrender his dibs, Rub his pate with a pair of lead towels.
1815 ‘J. Mathers’ Hist. Mr. John Decastro & Brother Bat I. 24 Old Crab..raising his oaken towel gave the door three bangs that shook the garrets.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
towel-board n.
ΚΠ
c1400 Sc. Trojan War i. 375 Cowpis out brought of golde sa clere, One towalle burdys arayit & drest.
towel-coffer n.
ΚΠ
1891 G. Meredith One of our Conquerors I. ix. 150 The oaken towel-coffer.
towel friction n.
ΚΠ
1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 1031 Spongings..followed by dry towel friction.
towel-maker n.
ΚΠ
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Mantelero A towell maker.
towel-room n.
ΚΠ
a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) iv. sig. H1 Allow you but a Towell roome to tipple in.
towel-warmer n.
ΚΠ
1884 Internat. Health Exhib. Official Catal. 94/2 Hot linen closet, and towel warmer.
b.
towel-covered adj.
ΚΠ
1916 H. G. Wells Mr. Britling sees it Through i. i. 19 A towel-covered can of hot water.
1947 Nation 22 Feb. 214/1 The crooked towel-covered table.
C2.
towel-gourd n. a name for Luffa ægyptiaca and L. acutangula, also called sponge-gourd or washing-gourd, the fibrous inner layer of the fruit being used in washing like a towel or sponge (cf. loofah n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > plants used to scrub or scour > [noun] > loofah plant or fruit
vegetable sponge1837
dish-rag1839
sponge gourd1861
towel-gourd1872
hechima1883
loofah-tree1887
dishcloth gourd1900
wash-gourd-
1872 D. Oliver Lessons Elem. Bot. (new ed.) ii. 176 The fibrous inner layer of the pericarp of the Towel-Gourd..is used as sponge and gun-wadding.
towel-horse n. a wooden frame or stand on which towels are hung.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > stand > [noun] > towel rail, -ring, -roller, or -rack
towel-horse1833
towel rail1833
towel-roller1833
towel-rack1877
towel ring1895
1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. 349 A Towel Horse has generally one rail at top... It..should..be painted, for the reasons given when speaking of fixed towel rails.
1861 H. F. Tozer in F. Galton Vacation Tourists & Trav. 1860 386 Hay hanging to dry on large hurdles strongly resembling a gigantic towel-horse. [Cf. 1541 Aberdeen Regr. XVII. (Jam.), Ane towall ross of aik worcht v ss.]
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 67 The damp towel on which you have just wiped your wet hands does not stand long on the towel-horse before it becomes dry again.
Thesaurus »
Categories »
towel-pattern n. Wood-carving = linen-scroll n. at linen adj. and n. Compounds 2.
towel-rack n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > stand > [noun] > towel rail, -ring, -roller, or -rack
towel-horse1833
towel rail1833
towel-roller1833
towel-rack1877
towel ring1895
1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Towel-rack, a frame or rod on which to hang towels to dry.
towel rail n. = towel ring n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > stand > [noun] > towel rail, -ring, -roller, or -rack
towel-horse1833
towel rail1833
towel-roller1833
towel-rack1877
towel ring1895
1833Towel rail [see towel-horse n.].
1961 Times 24 July 13/5 The civilized English custom of having heated towel-rails has not reached the United States.
towel ring n. a rail or ring on which to hang towels.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > stand > [noun] > towel rail, -ring, -roller, or -rack
towel-horse1833
towel rail1833
towel-roller1833
towel-rack1877
towel ring1895
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 126/3 Towel Ring. Consists of polished hard~wood ring with brass chain and hook.
1977 Times 30 July 10/6 Rough towels..towel rings..and all manner of taps.
towel-roller n. a horizontal roller on which an ‘endless’ towel (roller towel n. at roller n.1 Compounds 5 or round towel n. at round adj. Compounds 2a) is hung.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > stand > [noun] > towel rail, -ring, -roller, or -rack
towel-horse1833
towel rail1833
towel-roller1833
towel-rack1877
towel ring1895
1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §609 A Towel Roller ought to be placed on the back of the kitchen-door of every cottage.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
towelv.
/ˈtaʊ(ə)l/, U.S. /ˈtaʊ(ə)l/ 1.
a. transitive. To apply a towel to; to rub or dry with a towel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > wash one's body or part of it [verb (transitive)] > rub with a towel
towel1836
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 76 The children were yellow-soaped, and flannelled, and towelled, 'til their faces shone again.
1886 D. C. Murray First Person Sing. xix Zeno..was towelling himself before the mirror.
1894 A. Morrison Tales Mean Streets 15 Solemn little faces towelled to a polish.
b. intransitive (with at).
ΚΠ
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations xxvi, in All Year Round 16 Mar. 534/2 Letting his head drop into a festoon of towel, and towelling away at his two ears.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. vi. 54 ‘I never,’ towelling at himself as if he were his bitterest enemy, ‘saw such a girl as you are.’
c. absol. for reflexive. Also with down, off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > wash oneself [verb (intransitive)] > rub oneself with towel
towel1972
1972 M. Crichton Terminal Man iv. ii. 141 One of the girls got out of the pool lithely and began toweling off.
1977 P. Moyes To kill Coconut viii. 118 Emmy emerged from the shower, towelling vigorously.
1977 G. Fisher Villain of Piece iii. 29 I towelled down, dressed.
2. slang. To beat, cudgel, thrash. (Cf. towel n. 3.) Also (Australian) with up; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of striking with specific blunt weapon > strike with specific blunt weapon [verb (transitive)]
mellc1440
wapper1481
bebat1565
rib-roast1570
batonc1580
flail1582
club1593
bastonate1596
cudgel1598
rib-baste1598
shrub1599
truncheon1600
cut1607
scutch1611
macea1634
batoon1683
towel1705
quarterstaff1709
pole1728
handspike1836
blackjack1847
bludgeon1868
sandbag1887
cosh1922
sap1926
pistol-whip1930
knuckle-dust1962
the world > movement > impact > striking > beating or repeated striking > beat [verb (transitive)] > specifically a person
to-beatc893
threshOE
bustc1225
to lay on or upon?c1225
berrya1250
to-bunea1250
touchc1330
arrayc1380
byfrapc1380
boxc1390
swinga1400
forbeatc1420
peal?a1425
routa1425
noddlea1450
forslinger1481
wipe1523
trima1529
baste1533
waulk1533
slip1535
peppera1550
bethwack1555
kembc1566
to beat (a person) black and blue1568
beswinge1568
paik1568
trounce1568
canvass1573
swaddle?1577
bebaste1582
besoop1589
bumfeage1589
dry-beat1589
feague1589
lamback1589
clapperclaw1590
thrash1593
belam1595
lam1595
beswaddle1598
bumfeagle1598
belabour1600
tew1600
flesh-baste1611
dust1612
feeze1612
mill1612
verberate1614
bethumpa1616
rebuke1619
bemaul1620
tabor1624
maula1627
batterfang1630
dry-baste1630
lambaste1637
thunder-thump1637
cullis1639
dry-banga1640
nuddle1640
sauce1651
feak1652
cotton1654
fustigate1656
brush1665
squab1668
raddle1677
to tan (a person's) hide1679
slam1691
bebump1694
to give (a person) his load1694
fag1699
towel1705
to kick a person's butt1741
fum1790
devel1807
bray1808
to beat (also scare, etc.) someone's daylights out1813
mug1818
to knock (a person) into the middle of next week1821
welt1823
hidea1825
slate1825
targe1825
wallop1825
pounce1827
to lay into1838
flake1841
muzzle1843
paste1846
looder1850
frail1851
snake1859
fettle1863
to do over1866
jacket1875
to knock seven kinds of —— out of (a person)1877
to take apart1880
splatter1881
to beat (knock, etc.) the tar out of1884
to —— the shit out of (a person or thing)1886
to do up1887
to —— (the) hell out of1887
to beat — bells out of a person1890
soak1892
to punch out1893
stoush1893
to work over1903
to beat up1907
to punch up1907
cream1929
shellac1930
to —— the bejesus out of (a person or thing)1931
duff1943
clobber1944
to fill in1948
to bash up1954
to —— seven shades of —— out of (a person or thing)1976
to —— seven shades out of (a person or thing)1983
beast1990
becurry-
fan-
1705 J. Dunton Life & Errors 437 I'd towel him my self..if I did not think him an Honest Man.
1824 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1825) 164 I shouldn't have towelled her if she hadn't tempted me to it!
1903 M. G. Gerard Leaves from Diaries vi. 182 He caught him by the collar and towelled him down with a cutting whip.
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 78 Towel up, to, to beat, thrash.
1951 D. Cusack & F. James Come in Spinner 372 I think you deserve the V.C. for the way you towelled Old Mole up.
1973 A. Buzo Rooted 42 Gary got his big serve working, I chipped in at the net and we were laughing. Towelled them up in no time.
3. To cover with a towel or towels.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > with cloth or textile > specific
mat1549
down1602
blanket1608
rug1818
quilt1840
towel1865
felt1883
tarpaulin1891
velvet1959
tarp1979
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. iv. 25 I mean to apron it and towel it all over the front.
Derivatives
ˈtowelled adj. wrapped in a towel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > wrapping > [adjective] > wrapped > wrapped in specific material
matted1758
sheeted1766
wire-wrapped1860
towelled1920
burlapped1927
cellophaned1927
poly-wrapped1965
shrink-wrapped1970
bubble-wrapped1985
1920 T. S. Eliot Ara Vos Prec 23 Doris towelled from the bath Enters padding on broad feet.
1940 G. Arthur Concerning Winston Spencer Churchill 8 Standing at the edge of a deep swimming pool a junior boy mistook a towelled, stocky figure for a contemporary and playfully pushed him into the water.
1978 C. Tomlinson Shaft 3 The towelled head next.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.?1284
v.1705