tea cloth

• teacloth

From tea +‎ cloth; originally designating a cloth for wiping tea service items after washing, later a small tablecloth useful for afternoon tea. Attested from the late 18th century. Compare later tea towel.

tea cloth (plural tea cloths)

1. A tea towel.
2. A small tablecloth.

• tea, n.¹ in Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.

• locateth