What does towelling mean?
Towelling has two closely related uses in modern English. As a noun, it means absorbent fabric, usually cotton, made or woven for drying the body; the word usually refers to the material in bulk rather than to one towel. As a verb, towelling means drying or wiping oneself or another surface with a towel, as in “stop towelling your face and come downstairs.” The word is especially associated with British English, where the spelling has two l’s, although American speakers normally spell the material “towel” and use “toweling” for the activity. Towelling carries a practical, domestic tone and evokes bath time, beach holidays, and the brisk business of drying off. Its usefulness as a word lies in distinguishing the substance or action from an individual towel: one can speak of soft, absorbent cotton towelling without implying that a particular towel is present.
Absorbent fabric, especially cotton, woven or made for drying the body.
"The shop sells brightly coloured towelling for the beach."
Usually an uncountable mass noun in modern usage.
To dry or wipe oneself or something with a towel.
"She sat on the edge of the bath, towelling her hair."
Most often used with a person or body part as the object.
The plural is rarely needed because towelling is normally treated as an uncountable material.
"The importer offers several decorative towellings for beach use."
Spelled with two l’s in British English, towelling names the material—or the act of drying yourself with a towel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does towelling come from?
Towelling was formed from the noun towel with the suffix -ing, first serving as a name for fabric suitable for making towels. The underlying word towel entered Middle English from Old French touaille, which was borrowed from a Germanic word associated with washing or wiping. The modern spelling with two l’s is characteristic of British English.
Related word forms
How towelling is actually used
The verbal use is everyday and informal in tone, with the object commonly being a person or body part. In British English, the doubled-l spelling is standard; American English generally uses “toweling” for the activity and may use “towel” for the material.
Easily confused with towelling
A towel is an individual piece of cloth used for drying or covering; towelling usually refers collectively to the absorbent material used to make such pieces.