Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “lavender” come from?

lavender (Middle English) comes from Old French lavandiere, from Spanish lavandera, from Latin lavō, from Proto-Italic lawaō, from Proto-Indo-European léwh₃eti, from Proto-Indo-European lewh₃- — to wash.

lavender (Middle English): A washer; one who washes clothes; A woman...

Definitions

  1. A washer; one who washes clothes; A woman...

Ancestry of “lavender”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlavandierewasherwoman; launder
2Spanishlavanderalavender seller; laundrywoman; wagtail
3Latinlavō—
4Proto-Italiclawaō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanléwh₃eti—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewh₃-to wash

Words derived from “lavender”

  • laundering
  • laundress
  • launder
  • launderer
  • launderability
  • antilaundering
  • launderable
  • launderess
  • cyberlaundering
  • relaunder
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewh₃- →