trowel

Meaning

Noun

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

Verb

1. (transitive) To apply (a substance) with a trowel.
2. (transitive) To pass over with a trowel.
3. (colloquial, figuratively) To apply something heavily or unsubtly.

Synonyms

spade

shovel

spatula

plane

scoop

equalize

even

even out

even up

flatten

float

flush

level

plasterer’s trowel

ridge

scraper

set off

slice

smooth

smoothen

splint

straighten

straighten out

turner

digging tool

fish slice

pancake turner

putty knife

small shovel

darby

food turner

skimcoat

mason’s float

applicator

finishing tool

applier

come back

curb

equalise

Translations

truelle

Kelle

cazzuola

troffel

paleta

paleta

Maurerkelle

déplantoir

colher de pedreiro

gâche

llana

abkellen

μυστρί

Mauerkelle

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɹaʊ.əl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: trowell

In summary

From Middle English trowell, trouel, truel, from Middle French truelle, from Late Latin truella, from Classical Latin trulla, the diminutive of trua (“ladle”). Doublet of trullo.