Obs. Forms: 5 lavas, 6 lavess(e, lavasse, lavish. [a. OF. lavasse, lavache, deluge of rain. Cf. OF. lavis torrent (of words).] Profusion, excessive abundance, extravagant outpouring or expenditure; prodigality, lavishness. Phr. to make lavish.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 364/2. Ther was no lauas in their speche ne euylle.
1534. Whitinton, Tullyes Offices (1540), II. 101. The other large lauesse is appropried as to flatterers of the commen people.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke vii. 86 b. Dooest thou see this woman … makyng lauasse of hir precious perfumed oynctemente.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 117. They ryot not in lauish, but liue in fasting.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 40. If euerie brooker would deale thus, their would not so many false knaues bring them such lauish of stollen goods, as they do.
1589. Nashe, Introd. Greene’s Menaphon (Arb.), 8. The sweete sacietie of eloquence, which the lauish of our copious Language maie procure.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Massacre Paris, xxiv. 102. He loves me … that makes most lavish of his blood.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 11. You shall surely answere and make accowmpte for the lavess and misspendinge of your maysters goods.
