From dish + towel.
dishtowel (plural dishtowels)
- A towel or any similar cloth used to dry dishes.
- Synonyms: dishcloth, tea towel, tea cloth
- Coordinate term: dishcloth
A child of the Great Depression, Grandma would never throw away a dishtowel until it had more holes than thread.
a cloth or towel used to dry dishes
— see dishcloth