laver

Meaning

Noun

• A red alga/seaweed, Porphyra umbilicalis (syn. Porphyra laciniata), eaten as a vegetable.
• Other seaweeds similar in appearance or use, especially:
• One who laves: a washer.
• Where one laves, a washroom, particularly a lavatorium, the washing area in a monastery.
• That which laves, particularly a washbasin.

Related

Similar words

• See washbasin

Origin

• From Middle English laver, lavre, lever, levre, laber, from Old English læfer, leber, a borrowing from Latin laver.
• From Middle English laver, lavour, from Old French lavor, lavur, laveor, laveour, laveoir, from Latin lavatorium. lavatory.