Why Towel r called "Turkish towel"? T "sponge" derive from the Turkish T? Terry towels are called "Turkish towels. By terry - a pile fabric (usually cotton) with the uncut loops on both sides used to make bath towels and bathrobes
Turkish bath towels came into existence as a branch of velvet weaving early 18th century in Bursa, which is one of the largest textile centers in Turkey today. Initially, the towels used to be woven on looms. Most preferred are those that have been woven on 'Black handlooms "which were produced only 4 or 5 towels daily. Over time, the towel industry has become very powerful. Turkish bath towels, which are usually made of cotton have been exported to India, Iran, Syria, Egypt and the Balkans in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Historically, some of the finest terry towels come from cotton grown in Turkey and also woven here.
It is unlikely that the T is for Turkey.
The OED says it is not known if the adjective or noun version of "Terry" came first. If the adjective has been the first form, we think
came from the French "air" set "of" drawer "to draw or pull) in
reference to the established "loops" of wire that terry so soft and absorbent. The nominal form of the word first appears in the written record in 1784, and the adjective in 1835.
Posted on May 25, 2010.
