Lavage
/ˈlæv.ɑːʒ/noun
The washing or rinsing out of a body part, cavity, or wound.
Did you know?Lavage comes through French from Latin *lavare*, “to wash,” the same ancient root behind words for cleansing, baths, and ritual purification across Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewh₃-
“to wash, bathe”
Latin
Latin
lavāre
“to wash, bathe”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
lavāgium
“a washing, rinsing”
French
Old French
lavage
“washing, rinsing”
Modern English
English
lavage
“the washing out of a body cavity, wound, or organ”