Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Trowel \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. [thorn]vara, AS. [thorn]wiril. 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}.