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lath

(lăth)

n. pl. laths (lăthz, lăths)

a. A thin strip of wood or metal, usually nailed in rows to framing supports as a substructure for plaster, shingles, slates, or tiles.

b. A building material, such as a sheet of metal mesh, used for similar purposes.

a. A quantity of laths; lathing.

b. Work made with or from lath.

tr.v. lathed, lath·ing, laths

To build, cover, or line with laths.

[Middle English latthe, probably alteration (influenced by Welsh llath, rod) of Old English lætt.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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