What does "tea towel" mean?

A cloth, made from cotton or linen, for drying dishes and glassware.

What is a synonym for "tea towel"?

Common synonyms include: dish towel, dishtowel.

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A cloth, made from cotton or linen, for drying dishes and glassware. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK
2
a towel for drying dishes wordnet

From tea + towel. Attested from the middle 19th century. Compare earlier tea-cloth from the late 18th century.