Lant
/lænt/noun
An archaic term for urine, especially urine formerly collected for practical uses such as tanning or making saltpetre.
Did you know?Aged urine was historically valued because its ammonia compounds could assist processes connected with tanning, dyeing, and saltpetre production, an ingredient of gunpowder.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
lant
“Urine; an obsolete or dialectal term preserved in practical and household vocabulary.”
16th Century
English
lant
“Urine collected for use in tanning, dyeing, or other crafts.”
17th Century
English
lant
“Stale urine, particularly material valued for its chemical properties.”
18th Century
English
lant
“An increasingly archaic word surviving in dictionaries and regional usage.”
Modern English
English
lant
“A rare historical or dialect word for urine.”