Trowel

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Trowel \Trow"el\, n. [OE. truel, OF. truele, F. truelle, LL.
     truella, L. trulla, dim. of trua a ladle; probably akin to
     Gr. ? a stirrer, ladle, G. quirl a stirrer, MHG. twirel, OHG.
     dwiril, Icel. [thorn]vara, AS. [thorn]wiril. Cf. {Twirl}.]
     1. A mason's tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and
        breaking bricks to shape them.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A gardener's tool, somewhat like a scoop, used in taking
        up plants, stirring the earth, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Founding) A tool used for smoothing a mold.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Trowel bayonet}. See {Spade bayonet}, under {Spade}.
  
     {Fish trowel}. See {Fish slice}, under {Fish}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  trowel
       n : a small hand tool with a handle and flat metal blade; used
           for scooping or spreading plaster or similar materials
       v : use a trowel on; for light garden work or plaster work
       [also: {trowelling}, {trowelled}]