Lather Definition

Origin of Lather

• From Middle English lather, from Old English lÄ“aþor (“a kind of niter used for soap, soda"), from Proto-Germanic *lauþrÄ… (“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 (loúō). More at lye.

  From Wiktionary

• Frm Middle English *lethren, from Old English lēþrian, lȳþrian, *lÄ«eþrian (“to anoint, smear, lather"), from Old English lÄ“aþor (“a kind of niter used for soap, soda"). See above.

  From Wiktionary

• Probably from Middle English latheren to wash or soak clothes from Old English lēthran to cover with lather leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition