Etymology Explorer › Japanese

Where does “タオル” come from?

タオル (Japanese) comes from English towel, from Middle English towayle, from Old French toaille, from Medieval Latin toallia, from Frankish þwahilu, from Proto-Germanic þwahaną — to wash, bathe.

タオル (Japanese): towel

Definitions

  1. towel

Ancestry of “タオル”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtowelA cloth used for wiping, especially one used for...
2Middle EnglishtowayleA cloth for washing; a towel or washcloth; A...
3Old Frenchtoailletowel
4Medieval Latintoalliatowel, washcloth
5Frankishþwahilutowel, washcloth; cloth
6Proto-Germanicþwahanąto wash, bathe
Every word from Proto-Germanic þwahaną →