towel

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. [ 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 ]