Lather

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: lă.th'É™, IPA: /ˈlæ.ðə(ɹ)/, /ˈlɑːðə(ɹ)/
• US IPA: /ˈlæðɚ/
• Rhymes: -æðə(r)

From Middle English lather, from Old English lēaþor ("a kind of niter used for soap, soda"), from Proto-Germanic *lauþrą ("that which is used for washing, soap"), from Proto-Indo-European *lowʰ₃-tro- ("that which is used for washing"), from Proto-Indo-European *lawe-, *lewʰ₃-, *lowʰ₃- ("to wash, bathe"). Cognate with Swedish lödder ("lather, foam, froth, soap"), Icelandic löður ("foam, froth, a kind of niter used for soap"), Old Irish lóathar ("wash-basin"), Ancient Greek λουτρόν (loutrón, "a bath, wash-room"), Latin lavō ("wash"), Albanian laj ("I wash"), Ancient Greek λούω. More at lye.

Full definition of lather

Noun

1. The foam made by rapidly stirring soap and water.
2. Foam from profuse sweating, as of a horse.
3. A state of agitation.

Derived terms

• in a lather
• lathery

Frm Middle English *lethren, from Old English lēþrian, lȳþrian, *līeþrian ("to anoint, smear, lather"), from Old English lēaþor ("a kind of niter used for soap, soda"). See above.

Verb

1. (transitive) To cover with lather.
2. (transitive) To beat or whip.
3. (intransitive) To form lather or froth, as a horse does when profusely sweating.

Derived terms

• lather up

Anagrams

• halter
• thaler