laver

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an edible red seaweed, especially one used to make laverbread or as sheets for wrapping food

   The cook wrapped the rice in toasted laver and sliced the roll into rounds.

2. 2
   noun

   a large basin used for washing, especially for ritual ablutions

   The priest washed his hands at the bronze laver before entering the sanctuary.

The seaweed sense descends through Middle English from Old English læfer, probably borrowed from Latin laver, 'water plant.' The washbasin sense has a separate history: Middle English lavour from Old French laveoir, ultimately Latin lavatorium, 'washing place,' from lavare, 'to wash.'

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