Obs. [Sp., f. lavar to wash: see LAVE v.1] A place for washing gold ore.
1717. trans. Frezier’s Voy. S. Sea, 110. On the Descent of the Mountain … they shew’d me a Stream, where there is a rich Lavadero, or Place for washing of Gold.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), I. 452. The gold taken out of all these Lavaderos or mines in the province of Quito.
1799. W. Tooke, View Russian Emp., III. 414. To these mines belong three lavaderos … together having 861 troughs.
