lavant
A shallow or more or less intermittent spring, or the stream of water which feeds and…A shallow or more or less intermittent spring, or the stream of water (bourne) which feeds and springs forth from such a spring.
Meaning
2 senses(UK, dialectal)A shallow or more or less intermittent spring, or the stream of water (bourne) which feeds and springs forth from such a spring.
(UK, dialectal)A violent flow or rush of water.
How it did rain! It ran down the street in a lavant.
Origin
Uncertain. Possibly from Middle English *lavand, *lavant, lavande, present participle of MUncertain. Possibly from Middle English *lavand, *lavant, lavande, present participle of Middle English laven (“to stream, pour out a stream, wash”), from Old English lafian (“to pour water on, wash, lave, bathe, ladle out”), equivalent to lave + -and; or from Old French lavant, present participle of laver (“to wash”). See lave.
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