The towel man (5)
I believe the answer is:
terry
I believe this is a double definition.
'the towel' is the first definition.
(terry towel is a kind of towel)
'man' is the second definition.
(I have seen 'A man' mean 'terry' so perhaps 'man' could also mean 'terry')
(Other definitions for terry that I've seen before include "Loop of pile fabric; England footballer" , "Towelling fabric" , "Fabric with piles" , "Terence (dim.)" , "Cotton pile fabric used for towels and bath robes" .)