(a) The act or process of cleansing something in or with water or some detergent liquid; ~ bolle (tubbe), a wash basin (wash tub); ~ stok, a trough or tub for washing; ~ ston, a stone font or basin; (b) the ritual washing (of vessels and utensils); (c) the cleansing or treatment of flax, fabric, garments, etc. by soaking and agitating in water or some detergent solution, laundering; ~ betel, a stick or bat used to agitate laundry in washing; (d) that which is washed away, as from dirty dishes, swill; dirty dishwater; also, water in which an object has been dipped or soaked [2nd quot.].

(a) The hygienic cleansing of the body, a part of the body, an animal, etc. by bathing in water, scrubbing, etc.; ~ hous, a bathhouse or bath chamber; ~ of fet, fot ~, the ceremonial washing of another’s feet; also in fig. context; ~ penies, a fee for the washing of sheep; ~ touail, a piece of cloth for wiping or washing the hands; (b) a bathing pool, washing place; ?also, a ewer [quot. a1425].

(a) Spiritual or moral cleansing; also, ritual ablutions performed according to Jewish law, Christian sacramental formula, etc.; the rite of Christian baptism; ~ of sinne, ~ awei (of sinnes, purgation of guilt resulting from sins; ~ of (the) soule, purification of the soul; (b) ~ temples, temples of ~, pagan shrines or sanctuaries; ~ vessel, q.v.; ~ welle, fig. a font of spiritual cleansing.

(a) Med. The act or process of therapeutic or cosmetic rinsing or irrigation with water or some medicinal solution; a therapeutic soaking or bathing; also, cleansing with a therapeutic substance; ~ medicine; ~ butere, ?clarified butter used as an ointment; ~ with clisteres, internal cleansing by the administration of enemas; (b) med. a medicated or therapeutic liquid, lotion, etc. used for washing, irrigation, or soaking; (c) pathol. a sloughing off or liquefaction of tissue, the lining of an organ, etc.

The process of purifying a substance, reducing its toxicity, etc. by mixing it with water and draining it.

(a) The act of covering (walls with whitewash), whitewashing; (b) the application of a corrosive to gold so as to remove some of the metal.

(a) The action of drawing off (water from a pond); (b) the action of water in flowing, surging, or flooding.

In surname and place names.