Etymology Explorer › Tok Pisin

Where does “taul” come from?

taul (Tok Pisin) 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.

taul (Tok Pisin): towel

Definitions

  1. towel

Ancestry of “taul”, 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 →