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. þweán to wash, OS. thwahan,
Icel. þv, Sw. två, Dan. toe, Goth. þwahan. Cf. Doily.] A cloth used for
wiping, especially one used for drying anything wet, as the person
after a bath.
Towel gourd (Bot.), the fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Luffa
Ægyptiaca; also, the plant itself. The fruit is very fibrous, and, when
separated from its rind and seeds, is used as a sponge or towel. Called
also Egyptian bath sponge, and dishcloth.