trowel

Meanings

Noun

• A mason’s tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.
• A gardener’s tool, shaped like a scoop, used in taking up plants, stirring soil etc.
• A tool used for smoothing a mold.

Verb

• To apply (a substance) with a trowel.
• To pass over with a trowel.
• To apply something heavily or unsubtly.

Origin

• From Middle English trowell, trouel, truel, from Middle French truelle, from Late Latin truella, from Classical Latin trulla, the diminutive of trua.