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. þvara, AS. þwiril. Cf. Twirl.]
1.
A mason's tool, used in spreading and dressing mortar, and breaking bricks to shape them.
2.
A gardener's tool, somewhat like a scoop, used in taking up plants, stirring the earth, etc.
3. Founding
A tool used for smoothing a mold.
Trowel bayonet. See Spade bayonet, under Spade. -- Fish trowel. See Fish slice, under Fish.
© Webster 1913.