Etymology Explorer › Middle Irish

Where does “tuáille” come from?

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

Ancestry of “tuáille”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishtowelAlternative form of towayle
2Old Frenchtoailletowel
3Medieval Latintoalliatowel, washcloth
4Frankishþwahilutowel, washcloth; cloth
5Proto-Germanicþwahanąto wash, bathe

Words derived from “tuáille”

  • tuáille
  • tuáilléadach
Every word from Proto-Germanic þwahaną →