TOWEL

I. noun Etymology: Middle English towaille, from Anglo-French tuaille, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German dwahila ~; akin to Old High German dwahan to wash Date: 13th century an absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying, II. verb (-eled or -elled; -eling or -elling) Date: circa 1839 transitive verb to rub or dry (as the body) with a ~, intransitive verb to use a ~ to dry oneself