trowel

[ trou-uh l ]
/ ˈtraʊ əl /

noun

any of various tools having a flat blade with a handle, used for depositing and working mortar, plaster, etc.
a similar tool with a curved, scooplike blade, used in gardening for taking up plants, turning up earth, etc.

verb (used with object), trow·eled, trow·el·ing or (especially British) trow·elled, trow·el·ling.

to apply, shape, smooth, or dig with or as if with a trowel.

Origin of trowel

1300–50; Middle English < Old French truelle < Late Latin truella, equivalent to Latin tru(a) ladle + -ella -elle

OTHER WORDS FROM trowel

trow·el·er; especially British, trow·el·ler, noun

Example sentences from the Web for trowel

British Dictionary definitions for trowel

trowel
/ (ˈtraʊəl) /

noun

any of various small hand tools having a flat metal blade attached to a handle, used for scooping or spreading plaster or similar materials
a similar tool with a curved blade used by gardeners for lifting plants, etc

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

(tr) to use a trowel on (plaster, soil, etc)

Derived forms of trowel

troweller or US troweler, noun

Word Origin for trowel

C14: from Old French truele, from Latin trulla a scoop, from trua a stirring spoon

Idioms and Phrases with trowel

trowel

see under lay it on thick.