towelling Definition

towel
noun

1a. A piece of absorbent cloth that is used for drying oneself, another person, etc;

Example: a bath towel
1b. A piece of absorbent cloth that is used for drying something, eg dishes after they have been washed.

Example: a tea towel
Thesaurus: wiper, drier, cloth, rag.
(Brit)
2. dated
A sanitary towel.

verb towelled, towelling, toweled, toweling

1. To rub, wipe or dry someone or something with a towel.
2. slang
To thrash.

Idiom: throw in the towel (chuck, toss etc in the towel, chuck, toss etc in the sponge)

to admit defeat, originally in the literal boxing sense, but now applied to any defeat.
Example: This relationship isn't working ― we should just throw in the towel now

Etymology: 13c: from French toaille.

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towelling
noun

1. A type of material that is formed with many tiny loops of, usually cotton, thread which makes it highly absorbent and therefore an ideal fabric for towels, bathrobes, etc.
2. slang
A thrashing.