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trow·el

(trouəl)

1. A flat-bladed hand tool for leveling, spreading, or shaping substances such as concrete or mortar.

2. A small implement with a pointed, scoop-shaped blade used for digging, as in setting plants.

tr.v. trow·eled, trow·el·ing, trow·els or trow·elled or trow·el·ling

To spread, smooth, form, or scoop with a trowel.

[Middle English trowell, from Old French truele, from Late Latin truella, diminutive of Latin trua, ladle.]

trowel·er, trowel·ler n.

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trowel

top to bottom: inside corner, pointing, and finishing trowels

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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