English
launder
Launder comes from Middle English lavender ‘a washer’, from Latin lavō ‘to wash’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewh₃-‘to wash’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*lowō‘to wash’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElavō‘to wash’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CElavandera
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400lavandiere‘washerwoman’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lavender‘a washer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1609launder
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewh₃-‘to wash’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*lowō‘to wash’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElavō‘to wash’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CElavandera
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400lavandiere‘washerwoman’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lavender‘a washer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1609launder
Earliest quotation: 1609, William Shakespeare, A Louers Complaint: “Oft did she heave her napkin to her eyne,…”
The story
Contracted from Middle English lavender, from Old French lavandiere, from Late Latin lavandera, from Latin lavō (‘to wash’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- ‘to wash’
lavish, lye, solute, latrine, lather, lavage, 15 more
through Latin lavō ‘to wash’
alluvial, deluge, lavatory, ablution, diluent, laver, lave, 9 more
Today it means
noun A washerwoman or washerman.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- / launder