from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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. toe, Goth. [thorn]wahan. Cf. {Doily}.]
A cloth used for wiping, especially one used for drying
anything wet, as the person after a bath.
[1913 Webster]
{Towel gourd} (Bot.), the fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant
{Luffa Aegyptiaca}; 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}.
[1913 Webster]