lath

n.; pl. Laths [ OE. laththe, latthe, latte, AS. lætta; akin to D. lat, G. latte, OHG. latta; cf. W. llath a rod, staff, yard. Cf. Lattice, Latten. ] A thin, narrow strip of wood, nailed to the rafters, studs, or floor beams of a building, for the purpose of supporting the tiles, plastering, etc. A corrugated metallic strip or plate is sometimes used. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lath brick, a long, slender brick, used in making the floor on which malt is placed in the drying kiln.
Lath nail a slender nail for fastening laths. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lathed p. pr. & vb. n. Lathing. ] To cover or line with laths. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. l&aemacr_;ð. Of uncertain origin. ] Formerly, a part or division of a county among the Anglo-Saxons. At present it consists of four or five hundreds, and is confined to the county of Kent. [ Written also lath. ] Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. lathe a granary; akin to G. lade a chest, Icel. hlaða a storehouse, barn; but cf. also Icel. löð a smith's lathe. Senses 2 and 3 are perh. of the same origin as lathe a granary, the original meaning being, a frame to hold something. If so, the word is from an older form of E. lade to load. See Lade to load. ] 1. A granary; a barn. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mach.) A machine for turning, that is, for shaping articles of wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted upon by a cutting tool. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for separating the warp threads and beating up the weft; -- called also lay and batten. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blanchard lathe, a lathe for turning irregular forms after a given pattern, as lasts, gunstocks, and the like. --
Drill lathe, or
Speed lathe, a small lathe which, from its high speed, is adapted for drilling; a hand lathe. --
Engine lathe, a turning lathe in which the cutting tool has an automatic feed; -- used chiefly for turning and boring metals, cutting screws, etc. --
Foot lathe, a lathe which is driven by a treadle worked by the foot. --
Geometric lathe. See under Geometric --
Hand lathe, a lathe operated by hand; a power turning lathe without an automatic feed for the tool. --
Slide lathe, an engine lathe. --
Throw lathe, a small lathe worked by one hand, while the cutting tool is held in the other. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a heavy stick (often bamboo) bound with iron; used by police in India.
Syn. -- lathi. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. To form lather, or a froth like lather; to accumulate foam from profuse sweating, as a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lathered p. pr. & vb. n. Lathering. ] [ AS. lēðrian to lather, anoint. See Lather, n. ] To spread over with lather; as, to lather the face. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. leáðor niter, in leáðorwyrt soapwort; cf. Icel. lauðr; perh. akin to E. lye. ] 1. Foam or froth made by soap moistened with water. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Foam from profuse sweating, as of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. Leather. ] To beat severely with a thong, strap, or the like; to flog. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]