Launder
/ˈlɔːn.dər/noun
To wash and clean clothing or other textiles; to process money or assets to conceal their illegal origin.
Did you know?The word comes from Old French *lavandier* / *laundier*, “washer,” ultimately from Latin *lavare* “to wash,” the same root behind a whole family of cleansing words across Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewh₃-
“to wash, bathe”
Latin
Latin
lavāre
“to wash”
Late Latin
Latin
lavandarius
“one who washes”
Old French
Old French
lavandier
“washer, laundry worker”
Middle English
English
launder
“to wash clothes”
Modern English
English
launder
“to wash or conceal the source of something, especially money”