Where does “towel” come from?

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

towel (Middle English): Alternative form of towayle

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of towayle

Ancestry of “towel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchtoailletowel
2Medieval Latintoalliatowel, washcloth
3Frankishþwahilutowel, washcloth; cloth
4Proto-Germanicþwahanąto wash, bathe

Words derived from “towel”

Every word from Proto-Germanic þwahaną →Every word from Frankish þwahilu →Every word from Medieval Latin toallia →