Middle English Dictionary Entry
touail n.
Entry Info
| Forms | touail n. Also toual, touel, touwail(e, towail(le, towaile, towale, towali, toweaile, towel(le, towele, towial, towille, tawail, tavaile, tawale, tewail, tewel, thoaile, thoiale, tuail(e, tual(e, tuali, tueil, tuel, twail(l)e, twali; pl. towail(l)es, etc. & towaliis, toweiles, tovailles, tawelles, tewellis, towel, twel, (error) twoels. |
| Etymology | OF töaille, toalle, touail(l)e, touelle, touwaille, towel(le, towele, thouaile, AF towail(l)e, towille, tuail(l)e, tuaillie, tual(l)e, twaile & AL tuall(i)a, tuale, tuella, tovale, towailla, towella, twalla, twella. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A piece of cloth used to wipe something dry; washinge ~, a piece of cloth for wiping or cleansing something [see also washing(e ger. 2.]; (b) a cloth of the length of a table, chiefly for protecting a tablecloth [occas. difficult to distinguish from (a) and vice versa]; also, the fabric for such a cloth [2nd quot.]; ~ cloth; ~ long (court), long (short) ~; draught ~; maken ~, ?to lay a cloth on the table; sitten (eten) at the ~, take one's meals at a table that has been so covered; (c) a cloth used to strain liquids from food.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)563 : Þer moste cume Tuo maidenes..Þat on his heued for to kembe, Þat oþer bringe towaille & bacin For to wasse his honden in.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)77/195 : Was is manere eche day twelf pouere men to tak..And wosse hore vet & wipe ek wiþ towaile & wiþ is her.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)50/1387 : Þo hym wyþ a touwayle [alt. from: schete] ihesus After soper bygerte..And wesschte Al hys apostlene ueet.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3935,3943 : Iuppiter hym wessh bothe bak and syde, And Phebus eek a fair towaille [vr. towale] hym broughte To drye hym with..Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn, And Phebus with his towaille [vr. towele] so clene: Tho been the sonnes stremes for to seyn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15285 : Wit a tuell [Frf: touel; Trin-C: twaile] he belted him, His side sitand ful mete; Wit a basin he broght water, For to wasche þair fete.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15299 : First wit water he þam wesche Alle þair fete bedene, And wit his tueil efterward þair fete he weped clene.
- (1408) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.2981 : In pantaria..iiij towels longa pro locione post prandium et iij pro locione ante prandium.
- (1424) EEWills56/23 : I wull also he haue too fyne bordeclothes..with goode sanapes and wasshyngtowels, boþe for befor mete and after.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)110/208 : I se a childe..With a faire towail in his hand Driand þi fless.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)26/8 : Þa..sal..waisse þe tuailis þat tay sal wipe þaire hend opon and taire fete.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)498 : Towayl, or towaly [Win: twaly or towel; Phil: towayle or tavayle; Add: tuayl or tualy]..facitergium.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : Item, iiij weshyng towayles.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)1973 : Sodenly was brought hym tho An ewer wyth watyr and..A towell therwyth of Parys werke.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4923 : I wille she haue..j shorth washyng towayle.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)713 : The towelle two knyȝhtis schyn halde in fere Be-fore þe lordes sleues..The ouer bassyn þay halde neuer þe queder Quylle þo keruer powre water in-to þe nedur.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)23 : Of Knights to serve the King of his basen and towell, called for the body, one messe.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)245 : Þat oon bare of gold a basyn, Þat oþer a towayle, whyt and fyn, Of selk þat was good and ryche.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)517 : Vavasour and his wif..waisshed theire visages and theire handes and after hem dried on feire toweiles and white.
b
- (1377) Deed Yks.in YASRS 76129 : [1 pair of] tawelles.
- (1380) Will York in Sur.Soc.4113 : xij ulnas towail long melior, iiij towail curt.
- (1395) *Will Thornholm (Comm.Crt.London) [OD col.] : Thoayle wt a blak lyst, borthcloth cum vna thoyale accordyngg.
- (1397) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.cxvii : Item, iij mappae antiquae pro magna mensa; Item, j towelclath cum manitergio ejusdem sectae.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)93 : Alle þe officers..shuld bryng þider al þat hem neden..and shuld lay þe towailes and boordclothes al about vpon þe grene gras, and sette diuers metis vpon a grete plater after þe lordis pouere.
- (1415) Will in Bdf.HRS 226 : Item, a longe Tawaill of rayns of xiiij ȝerds di..a short towaill of Raynes of ij ȝerdis and an half.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)97 : Of that symple mete..the aungels token with a lof and a towaile [vr. tuale] and othere necessaries and..spradden the towayle vppon the grounde and leiden brede theron.
- (1434) EEWills102/18 : Y bequethe my roller for a towell to Margery Bokeler.
- (1438) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.2 : iiij longe towell playne.
- (1445) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : I bequeth..ij draght twoels [read: towels] of a suet of Parissh werke.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.348 : Anon they Seten vppon that Molde and spredden Abrod vppon here knees Towaylles and Empty dowbleris, as men that wolden here fast breke.
- (1462) Paston1.112 : Item, ij towaylis of diaper werk, ich x yardes long.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)32 : The ussher of the chambre..maketh his towell or surnape as dothe a Marchall when the King is in the hall.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)43 : He sittythe in the halle with groomes of houshold at the towell.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)84 : Other twoe groomes in this office for the halle..eate in the halle atte the towell at one of the meates, by theyre owne assent, after as theyre businesse dothe require.
c
- a1325 Add.46919 Cook.Recipes (Add 46919)51.40/2-3 : When a mete is to muche isalt, þat is to suggen, potagee, to maken remedie in god stat: nym gruel & do in an touwayl, & nim þilke touayl wiþ þe gruel, [etc.].
- a1325 Add.46919 Cook.Recipes (Add 46919)51.41/6 : Do veyr water ynoh wiþ þe corne 4 dawes & vche day beo wel ywaschen..& schal stonden in þe water al þat hit beo isoken, & soþþen yhonged in an touwayl aȝein þe zunne al þat hit beo drue.
- 1381 Dc.257 Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)77.80/3 : Tak god mylk of almandys & rys..& after do hem in a feyre towayl for to drie.
- c1400 Sln.468 Cook.Recipes (Sln 468)84.5/7-8 : Whan þe melk & þe venegre be put togedere, persche þe pot benethe þat þe licoure may renne out, & whan it is all ronnen tak þat þat leueth in þe pot & do in a fayre twayle & left it vp & doun, & whan þe licoure is out clene, tak it of þe twayle & it is botere & creem.
- (1422-3) Acc.Abingdon in Camd.n.s.5194 : Item, iij twell' pro caseo portando.
2.
Eccl. (a) A cloth used to cover an altar; also, a cloth used to cover a tomb [quot. a1450 St.Editha]; auter ~; (b) a cloth used to cover the host; houselinge ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1284) Invent.Shrewsbury in Shrops.ANHS ser.1.1 [OD col.]()358 : Item ij Toweles pro ij altariis cum apparatu precii xij s. iiij d.
- (1378) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.16 : A case containing a pillow for an altar, an] autercloth [and 2] towayles [worth 10 s.].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.11 : He ordeyned þat..no womman schulde handle þe towayles of þe auȝter.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.172 : [A frontal with a] towale..[a] tawale..[2] tawales [with 2 frontals].
- (1420) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)190 : Lego ecclesie de Wyly j towyal de worke..lego ecclesie Sancti Nicholai..j towyal de work.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)39/8 : When þai offir hir hande, þai salle winde þe tuaile þar-a-bowte of þauter.
- (1433) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2443 : de iiij receptis pro uno tuall vetere vendito.
- (1434-5) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7831 : Item, resiue one tewayll that mayster Roger gatte to the cherche of a woman.
- (1447) Doc.in HMC Rep.3 App.316a : Item, x auter clothis of playne and napery; Item, xviii towelles playne and diaperid.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1759 : Se þe cloþes þat þey be clene, And also halowet alle by-dene, Wyth þre towayles, and no lasse, Hule þyn auter at thy masse.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2274,2277 : Hurre blessud moder..Toke a twaylle of ryȝt gode aray & vpon þat virgenys tombe hit layde..þis twaylle y-bordryd abouȝt was Wt palle þe mountenesse ofe han hondbrede.
- (1454-56) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31243 : Item, paied for wasshing of auterclothes, towails, aubes, amytes, and surplices.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.4.86 : Item, to the hye altar belongeth viij altar clothes, ij frontels, one of velvette, Anoyther off wulstyde, ij towels of twyll, And iij of playn Irisshe clothe.
- (1472) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99246 : Item, ij towelles pro altari.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)755/20 : Nomina ecclesie nessessaria..touale: a toual.
- 1618(1440) Invent.Cumberworth in Peacock EChurch Furniture182 : Item, syx alter towelles of lynnen cloth, the first with a frounter pailed read white and black part velvet and cloth of gold.
b
- (1434) Invent.Scarborough in Archaeol.5166 : Quinque manutergia pro lavatorio Et sex howselyng towell' longis.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1214 : Item, ij towellys to serve to hesill wt at Estr, & i Chaleyse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1029/16,19 : Angels..bare candils of wexe, and the thirde bare a towell..they sette the candyls uppon the table, and the thirde the towell uppon the vessell.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)51/60 : No towayle but a shete there god shal ben handled.
3.
(a) A long, narrow piece of cloth, used for various purposes, chiefly surg. [a few quots could also be construed as (b)]; (b) a piece of cloth used as an item of clothing, freq. a scarf.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)324/14 : Take a strong towail, & leie him vndir his arme, & lete þe oon ende go forþ bihinde his rigge, & þat oþer ende forþ bi his brest.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)3.58/16 : Brune forsoþ in sych contreopnyng putteþ towalez, half tentez [L tuellos siue tentas], in aiþer partie.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(1) (NY 12:Wallner)3.129/6 : In wonde of þe armez, it bihoueþ þat þe arme be holde wiþ a towelle in þe breste hanged to þe necke.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)129a/a : Make him to bere his arme in a toweaile and putte vnder his arme a rounde balle made of cloþe.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)18 : The goode Duk off Gloucetre..was ffoule mordred at Caleys with ij Tovaylles made square wyse, and putte aboute his nekke.
- (1447) RParl.5.135a : They..dispoilled youre Besechers..oon..slayne with a tewell in his bed.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)352/1 : Þai..tokyn ij smale tewellys, and made on ham rydyng knottis and caste þe tewellys aboute þe Dukis nek.
- (1453) RParl.5.270a : Edward..bonde her fast to hym with a Towell and rode awey with her.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)432/17 : On the rokkys they founde hym and with towels pulde hym up.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)76a/a : Bynde..þe membre þat þe arowe heed stikiþ ynne wiþ softe towailis to a strong piler.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)43 : Maistyr surgeoun..To this office is delivered a parte of the olde broken mete, clothes, and towells perused in the ewry..to make playstyrs for the sycke officers of this courte.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)7/17 : On hir arme she bare a towaile, hir here abowte hir necke and [a] knyf in hir hande.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)149/3220 : On a towaile [vr. her gurdill] ȝhe made knotte riding; Aboute his nekke ȝhe hit þrew..Be þe nekke ȝhe haþ him vp tiȝt.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)604 : His clathes of him þai don, a white towayle in hy, a purpure mantell þareopon, and hid his eghen hastily.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)161 : Hir heed writhen was, ywis, Ful grymly with a greet towayle.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)262/12 : Aaron..and alle his children weren cloþed wiþ cotes of lynen cloþ..Þe twaile [Ayenb.: kertel] of whiȝte lynen behoueþ ofte to be wasche and bete.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.95 : Þey been also peyntyd wyt towalyis abouten here nekke in tokene þat þey been alwey redy to seruyn God.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)723/36 : Mantile: a towylle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. towel.