mantēle (mantīle), is, n., and mantēlĭum (mantīlĭum), ii, n. [manus and tela, properly a cloth for the hand], a towel, napkin.
- I. Lit.: mantelium, ubi manus terguntur, Varr. L. L. 6, § 85 Müll.: tonsisque ferunt mantelia villis, Verg. A. 1, 702 (v. l. mantilia); id. G. 4, 377; Plin. 7, 2, 2, § 12.
- II. Transf., a table-cloth (postclass.): mantelia nunc pro operiendis mensis sunt: quae, ut nomen ipsum indicat, olim tergendis manibus praebebantur, Isid. Orig. 19, 266; in form mantile, Treb. Galb. 16, 3.