Etymology Map
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Towel

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a piece of absorbent cloth for drying oneself

Where does the word "towel" come from? It comes from Frankish thwahlja, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
thwahlja
Frankish · ancient
"cloth for washing"
a Germanic word related to Old English 'þwean', to wash
2
Stage 2 of 3
toaille
Old French · medieval
"cloth, napkin"
a linen cloth for drying hands at table
3
Stage 3 of 3
towel
English · 1200s
"cloth for drying"
'throw in the towel' is boxing slang from the early 1900s
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Towel’s story begins in Frankish: thwahlja meant “cloth for washing.” A Germanic word related to Old English 'þwean', to wash. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as toaille. A linen cloth for drying hands at table. It reached English by 1200s as towel. 'throw in the towel' is boxing slang from the early 1900s. Today, towel means a piece of absorbent cloth for drying oneself.