lavabon.
/ləˈvɑːbəʊ/, /ləˈveɪbəʊ/, U.S. /ləˈvɑ(ˌ)boʊ/ (in senses 2 and 4, also)Brit. /ˈlavəbəʊ/, U.S. /ˈlævəboʊ/ 1. Christian Church (esp. Roman Catholic Church).† b. = lavabo towel n. at Compounds 2. Obsolete.
a. Frequently with capital initial. A ritual washing of the celebrant's hands during the Eucharist, esp. one carried out after the offering of the gifts, accompanied traditionally in the Roman rite by the recitation of a prayer beginning, Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas, ‘I shall wash my hands among the innocent’ (Psalm 26:6ff.). Also: the prayer, beginning Lavabo, traditionally recited by the celebrant at that washing of the hands.As part of the revision of the Roman Catholic liturgy after the Second Vatican Council, the 1970 Roman Missal replaced this prayer at the washing of the hands with Psalm 51:4, Lava me, Domine, ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me (‘Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin’). Among Roman Catholics, this sense of lavabo has become gradually less common since then, though it retains its currency in circles in which the Tridentine Mass is still celebrated.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > parts of service > offertory > [noun] > washing of hands during
lotion1529
ablution1699
lavabo1858
lavatory1896
1584 T. Stocker tr. P. Viret Cauteles, Canon & Ceremonies Popish Masse 176 There are also certaine vsages, according to which the Lauabo [Fr. le Lauabo] is onely giuen in this behalfe, as that which Nicholas de Ploue ensueth.
1673 T. V. Dayly Exercise Devout Christian (ed. 3) 359 (heading) At Lavabo.
1741 R. Challoner Garden of Soul 81 Devotions for mass..A Prayer at the Lavabo, or the washing of the Fingers.
1763 Divine Office for Use of Laity I. p. vi The prayers..either immediately after the Gospel, or before the Lavabo.
1858 J. Purchas Directorium Anglicanum Gloss. 232 Lavabo, the secreta oratio of the Priest when water is poured on his fingers before the Prayer of Oblation.
1885 W. Pater Marius the Epicurean iv. xxiii The..pontiff, as he..moved his hands..at the Lavabo, or at the various benedictions.
1922 C. Mackenzie Altar Steps xi. 109 Apart from a faint anxiety about the Lavabo, he felt secure of his accomplishment.
1972 P. D. Day Eastern Christian Liturgies 44 The priest now washes his hands while reciting the Lavabo (Psalm 26:6-12).
1983 D. G. Michno Priest's Handbk. (ed. 3) 73 If another minister is doing the ablutions, a server may wash the celebrant's fingers as at the lavabo.
2009 Ireland's Eye Jan. 30/4 The priest and I went through the whole Mass as if we had done it together many times before: water and wine; lavabo (the ritual of washing hands after the offertory)..and the final blessing.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > cloths, carpets, cushions > cloth (general) > eucharistic cloth > [noun] > for wiping vessels, fingers, or lips
mundatory1670
purificatory1670
manutergium1774
lavabo1837
purificator1853
manuterge1910
1837 Sel. from C. M. Merati on Ceremonies of Church vi. 33 The lavabo, mundatory, and chalice-veil, are never to be used as a substitute for a communion-cloth.
1868 M. E. C. Walcott Sacred Archæol. 583 Two were frequently placed on the altar, under the corporal, and a third (the lavabo) was used at the lavatory for wiping the hands.
1870 D. Rock Textile Fabrics (S. Kensington Mus.) 203 These small liturgical towels got, and still keep, the name of Lavabo cloths or Lavaboes.
c. A small bowl used to contain water for use in the lavabo ritual.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > artefacts > implement (general) > vessel (general) > piscina > [noun]
laverc1394
lavatory1412
lavatory stone1487
piscine1489
piscina1734
sacrarium1848
lavabo1852
lavabo basin1855
aquamanile1875
1852 J. Taaffe Hist. Order St. John III. 281 A most splended [sic] lavabo of gold, and its golden ewer..which its grand master placed in the order's treasury.
1894 Calcutta Rev. Apr. 316 We were shown all the Begum's gifts to the Cathedral, among which are a gold chalice set with precious stones..a silver Lavabo, and a magnificent antependium for the altar.
1918 New Age Oct. 478/2 Enough gold to make a lavabo of generous size to be used in some of the degrees of the Rite.
1986 D. Helwig Bishop (1987) iii. 214 He had broken the bread and blessed the wine, and the server who brought the lavabo to wash his fingers had his own young face.
2004 H. M. Clifford Treasured Inheritance 55/1 The generosity of five different couples who married in the chapel at New College enabled the Dean to commission a new lavabo and one of a pair of altar vessels.
2. A basin for washing the hands or body; (later also) an item of furniture incorporating such a basin; a washstand.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > washing the hands > vessel for washing the hands (and face) > wash-stand
wash-hand stand1789
washing-stand1789
lavabo1818
washstand1839
1818 Morning Post 29 Apr. 1/4 (advt.) Secretaries, armoires, lavabos, commodes, chests of drawers, jardinieres, chiffoniers, &c.
1857 F. L. Olmstead Journey through Texas i. 26 We were shown to the common lavabo.
1924 Bull. Art Instit. Chicago 18 59/1 A large lavabo or basin of 1780 has sides with stiff flowering trees between geometric motifs.
1971 From Lenape Territory to Royal Province 68 Lavabo and shaving dish. England, 17 century. Oblong dish engraved with William Penn's coat of arms, lavabo with reverse monogram WP.
2015 M. McHugh Cancans, Croissants, & Caskets x. 120 I was admiring a sweet little lavabo with a basin and flowered pitcher in one of the bedrooms.
3.
a. A washing trough or fountain provided in some medieval monasteries for the monks to wash at, typically consisting of a permanent stone basin or sink, either free-standing or attached to a wall, with a water supply and a drain; (sometimes also) a similar feature in a church used for the Lavabo ceremony or for draining water; a piscina (piscina n. 2a). Hence: a similar trough or wall basin in another setting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > washing the hands > vessel for washing the hands (and face) > in a church or monastery
laverc1394
lavatorya1676
lavabo1832
lavabo basin1855
1832 M. Starke Information & Direct. for Travellers on Continent Europe (ed. 8) ii. 51/1 The Lavabo and its Well are extremely elegant.
1883 Mag. Art Dec. 47/1 We give a reproduction of..one aspect of the lavabo, or washing-trough, which gives its name to the lavatory.
1889 Handbk. Travellers Central Italy (ed. 11) 112/2 The abandoned sacristy contains a beautiful lavabo.
1923 Bull. Cleveland Museum of Art 10 4 It was probably placed above a lavabo, perhaps at the entrance to the refectory of the convent.
1967 San Antonio (Texas) Express 30 Mar. (Classified section) 11/7 Iron Lavabo for Garden Wall.
1996 A. Emery Greater Medieval Houses Eng. & Wales I. 204/2 The splendid lavabo with its trefoil head..is in the opposite wall, close to the present house entrance.
2000 R. King Brunelleschi's Dome (2001) xv. 135 The cathedral, for which he sculpted a marble lavabo, the ritual hand-basin in the south sacristy.
2014 Kells Priory (Archaeol. Ireland Heritage Guide No. 66) A lavabo (a stone trough where the canons washed their hands before eating) was installed on the outside wall.
b. A building or structure housing such washing facilities in a monastery.
ΚΠ
1884 Irish Builder 1 Aug. 223/1 The plan of the mother abbey of Clairvaux, showing that in both of the cloisters there a ‘Lavabo’ was placed adjoining the cloister walk.
1912 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Antiquaries Ireland 42 269 Recent excavation..has brought to light the foundations of the Lavabo within the garth; the building in question was circular in plan, and 12 feet in diameter.
1969 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. C. 68 133 This [path] centred on the north archway of the lavabo, and marked the approach, through this octagonal building, to the buildings of the south range.
2011 Western Morning News (Plymouth) (Nexis) 12 Feb. 22 Remnants of an elaborate lavabo (a washhouse) have been discovered in St Nicholas Priory which helps date parts of this early pipe system to the 1170s.
4. A room or cubicle with facilities for washing the hands, face, etc., and later usually also with a toilet or toilets; = lavatory n. 5b. Cf. washroom n. 2.In early use chiefly in French context; chiefly euphemistic in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] > water-closet or lavatory
closet1496
water closet1736
water closet1747
throne room1787
W.C.1815
netty1825
convenience1841
Johnny1847
lavabo1852
restrooma1856
small room1858
cloakroom1865
lavatory1874
bathroom1883
toilet1886
can1900
place1902
lav1913
washroom1919
head1920
lavvy1922
dike1923
smallest room1930
John1931
khazi1932
loo1940
biffy1942
Wa1953
shitcan1954
commode1958
cludgie1961
1852 33rd Ann. Rep. N.-Y. Inst. for Instr. Deaf & Dumb 1851 94 In an adjoining room, (salle de toilet or lavabo) on the same floor, were wash-basins.
1876 New Cent. 28 Oct. 165/1 Make her toilet in a tile-floored lavabo where a dozen girls are the same time performing their ablutions.
1903 A. H. S. Landor Across Coveted Lands i. 10 There is a fine lavabo at the end of each carriage, with shampoo, hot and cold water, etc.
1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xiv. 177 The little lavabo in the passage.
1951 S. J. Perelman Let. 1 Dec. in Don't tread on Me (1987) 120 The man who changes the rolls of toilet paper in M. Lincoln Schuster's private lavabo.
2006 Independent (Nexis) 8 Aug. 7 I've collected enough driving fines to paper the downstairs lavabo.
Compounds
C1. General attributive (chiefly in sense 1a), as lavabo bowl, lavabo cloth, lavabo cruet, lavabo set, lavabo rite, etc.
ΚΠ
1870 D. Rock Textile Fabrics (S. Kensington Mus.) 203 These small liturgical towels got, and still keep, the name of Lavabo cloths or Lavaboes.
1886 Downside Rev. July 276 This cloth looks like a sacrist lavabo cloth.
1912 A. Reynolds Churchman's Guide (ed. 2) 296/1 He prepares the credence by placing thereon the bread, wine, water, and Lavabo cruets.
1921 House & Garden Oct. 42/3 The lavabo niche, recessed about 9″ or 10″ into the wall, is framed within pilasters and an entablature of exquisitely carved stone.
1957 D. C. Diggs Working Man. Altar Guilds ii. 37 On the credence table are placed the wine and water cruets..the lavabo bowl and lavabo towel.
2005 Metropol. Museum Art Bull. 63 21 Ewer and Basin (Lavabo Set).
2007 K. D. Brighenti Catholicism Answer Bk. xxiii. 360 A finger towel is used in the Lavabo rite.
C2.
lavabo basin n. (a) = sense 1c; (b) = sense 3a.
ΚΠ
1855 Berrow's Worcester Jrnl. 29 Sept. 8/1 Among the articles exhibited by Messrs. Hardman were..lavabo basins, patens, and alms basins.
1886 Derby Mercury 21 Apr. 2/1 Pyx for the sacrament reserved for the sick, corporal, chalice veils, lavabo basin.
1912 A. Reynolds Churchman's Guide (ed. 2) 239/2 They would include, for instance, stone altars, altar lights, censer, lavabo-basin and towels.
1960 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 13 Oct. 44/3 The lavabo basin used in church ceremonies and recently in homes for ivy decor, was possibly what the apostles' feet were washed with.
2006 Herald Express (Torquay) (Nexis) 14 Feb. 13 The lavabo basin, where the monks used to wash their hands and clothes.
lavabo towel n. a small towel or cloth used to wipe the hands of the priest during the lavabo ritual (see sense 1a).
ΚΠ
1867 V. M. White Ritualism & New Test. Christianity iv. 74 Incense boat, knife, lavabo towel, pax, holy water vat.
1886 H. O'Donnell Sacristan's Guide xii. 104 The cruets of wine and water, with lavabo towel and hand-bell.
1935 San Antonio (Texas) Express 8 Jan. 5/2 The gifts include..lavabo towels, purificators and corporals.
1957 D. C. Diggs Working Man. Altar Guilds ii. 37 On the credence table are placed the wine and water cruets..the lavabo bowl and lavabo towel.
2013 R. Atwell Good Worship Guide iii. 72 Place the bowl and lavabo towel on the table.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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