[Perh. var. of LATCH sb., a. OF. lache vbl. sb., f. lachier, dial. variant of lacier: see LACE v. Cf. Swiss Ger. laschen shoe-lace.
It is possible that the three senses below have arisen from the substitution of LASH sb.1 for other words of somewhat similar sound and meaning.]
† 1. A string, cord, thong. Cf. LACE sb. 2, LATCH sb.1 1. Obs. (Quot. c. 1440 is somewhat doubtful; throat-lash is current as a var. of throat-latch.)
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 288/1. Lasche, stroke [sic], ligula.
† 2. = LASSO 1. Obs. rare.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. vi. 65. A machine, which the English … at Buenos Ayres, generally denominate a lash. It is made of a thong of several fathoms in length … with a running noose at one end of it. Ibid., 66. The address both of the Spaniards and Indians in … the use of this lash or noose.
3. Weaving. = LEASE or LEASH.
1731. Mortimer, in Phil. Trans., XXXVII. 106.
1831. G. R. Porter, Silk Manuf., 246. Eight rows, forming as many leases or lashes in the warp.
1857. Parkhill, Hist. Paisley, xiv. 113. In the shawl manufacture the lashes have to be drawn twice.
1895. Knight, Dict. Mech., Lash (Weaving), a thong formed of the combined ends of the cords by which a certain set of yarns are raised in the process of weaving Brussels carpet.
