phrases - What is the American word for 'tea-towel'?


On a tour from Australia to the states my wife asked me to stop at the gift store and buy memorable fridge-magnets and tea-towels. Everywhere I went, none of the store attendants seemed to know what the latter was. My question is: What is the American word for 'tea-towel'?



Answer



I guess they are called:


Dish towels:





  • a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping




    • A tea towel or drying-up cloth (English), or dish towel (American) is a cloth which is used to dry dishes, cutlery, etc., after they have been washed.




    • In 18th century England, a tea towel was a special linen drying cloth used by the mistress of the house to dry her precious and expensive china tea things. Servants were considered too ham-fisted to be trusted with such a delicate job, although housemaids were charged with hand-hemming the woven linen when their main duties were completed.Tea towels have been mass-produced since the Industrial Revolution.







Ngram - BrE: dish towel/tea towel/drying-up cloth/dishcloth.


Ngram - AmE: dish towel/tea towel/drying-up cloth/dishcloth


(from Wikipedia): Towel.


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