Definition of LATHER

lather

Plural: lathers

Noun

  • the froth produced by soaps or detergents
  • agitation resulting from active worry
  • a workman who puts up laths
  • the foam resulting from excessive sweating (as on a horse)
  • The foam made by rapidly stirring soap and water.
  • Foam from profuse sweating, as of a horse.
  • A state of agitation.

Verb

Verb Forms: lathered, lathering, lathers

  • To produce a foamy mass from soap.
  • beat severely with a whip or rod
  • form a lather
    • "The shaving cream lathered"
  • exude sweat or lather
    • "this unfit horse lathers easily"
  • rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning
  • To cover with lather.
  • To beat or whip.
  • To form lather or froth, as a horse does when profusely sweating.

Examples

  • I tried to LATHER a long word, but only managed a short, bubbly one.
  • The young woman lathered her breasts with lavender-scented soap.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English lather, from Old English lēaþor (“a kind of nitre used for soap, soda”), from Proto-West Germanic *lauþr, from Proto-Germanic *lauþrą (“that which is used for washing, soap”), from Proto-Indo-European *lówh₃trom (“that which is used for washing”), from *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 (“I wash”), Albanian laj (“I wash”), Ancient Greek λούω (loúō). More at lye.

Scrabble Score: 9

lather: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
lather: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
lather: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

lather: valid Words With Friends Word