Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: truelle, from Late Latin truella, from Latin trua 'large deep spoon'

trowel

 noun
     
trowel
NEW! See related topics: GARDENINGTOOLS
trow‧el [countable]
1DLGTZ a garden tool like a very small spade
2TZ a small tool with a flat blade, used for spreading cement on bricks etc
3

lay it on with a trowel

British English informal to say things that make something seem much better, worse etc than it really is [= exaggerate]:
'I really don't feel too good,' I croaked, laying it on with a trowel.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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