- laver
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laver1
/lay"veuhr/, n.1. Old Testament. a large basin upon a foot or pedestal in the court of the Hebrew tabernacle and subsequently in the temple, containing water for the ablutions of the priests and for the washing of the sacrifices in the temple service.2. Eccles. the font or water of baptism.3. any spiritually cleansing agency.4. Archaic.a. a basin, bowl, or cistern to wash in.b. any bowl or pan for water.[1300-50; ME lavo(u)r < AF lavour, OF laveoir < LL lavatorium LAVATORY]laver2/lay"veuhr/, n.any of several edible seaweeds, esp. of the genus Porphyra.[1605-15; < NL, special use of L laver a water plant]
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▪ algaeany member of the genus Porphyra, a group of marine red algae. The thallus, a sheet of cells embedded in a thin gelatinous stratum, varies in colour from deep brown or red to pink; sexual reproductive structures are borne at the margin. Laver grows near the high-water mark of the intertidal zone in both Northern and Southern hemispheres. It grows best in nitrogen-rich water, such as is found near sewage outlets. Laver is harvested, dried, and used as food in greater amounts than any other seaweed. A major food crop, it is cultivated on ropes in extensive inshore fields in East Asia. It is used as a soup base, as a flavouring for other food, and as a covering for rice-filled sushi. On the Welsh and Scottish coasts, it is sometimes grilled on toast (sloke) and is reported to have an oysterlike taste.* * *
Universalium. 2010.