Etymology

From Middle Low German lavēren, from Middle Dutch laveren, loveren, which is derived from the cognate of German Luv ‎(“windward side of the ship”). It is often supposed that the Dutch verb is borrowed from Middle French lofuyer, from lof ‎(“windward side”), itself a Dutch borrowing in Middle French. The phonetics of the Dutch word speak in favour of this, but the earliest French attestation is no less than 200 years younger than the earliest one in Dutch. Compare modern Dutch laveren, modern French louvoyer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /laˈviːʁən/, [laˈviːʁən], [laˈviː.ɐn]