Tow"el, v. t. To beat with a
stick. [Prov. Eng.]
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.
þvā, 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.