[Perh. f. LASH sb.2, or a. OF. lachier, dialectal var. of lacier: see LACE v.
Words of similar sound, and somewhat approximating in sense, are Du. lasschen, to patch, sew together, to scarf (timber); G. laschen to fit with a gusset, to scarf; from M.Du. lasche (mod. lasch) rag, patch, gusset; G. lasch, lasche flap, lappet, gusset, scarf-joint. But it does not appear probable that these have any connection with the Eng. word.]
† 1. trans. To lace (a garment). Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 288/1. Lasschyn, ligulo.
1602. Middleton, Blurt, II. ii. D i b. An Eele-skin sleeue lasht heere and there with lace, Hye coller, lasht agen; breeche lasht also.
1611. Cotgr., Aiguilletter, to whip, or lash, with points.
2. Chiefly Naut. To fasten or make fast with a cord, rope, thong, piece of twine, etc.; † to truss (clothes); to fasten to (something). Also with down, on, together; † refl. of a plant. Lash away, lash and carry (see quots. 1867).
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, V. 194. Her Ordnance being lashed so fast they could not be vnloosed.
1692. Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 79. Lash the Fish on to the Mast.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 37. Bolts to lash the Boats on the upper Deck.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 31. This Plant … lashes itself round any tree that is near it.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. iv. 330. We had not a gun on board lashed.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), VI. 1956. A child … had been lashed under the thwarts of the canoe.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 97, note, The rods were here lashed together by a packthread.
1829. Longf., Wreck Hesperus, xx. A maiden fair, Lashed close to a drifting mast.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria, II. 257. The Indians had lashed their canoes to the ship.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxix. 105. All our spare spars were taken on board and lashed.
1853. Sir R. Douglas, Milit. Bridges (ed. 3), 66, marg. Lash down Pontoons.
1867. F. Francis, Angling, xiii. (1880), 461. This process of lashing on a hook.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Lash and carry, the order given by the boatswain and his mates on piping up the hammocks, to accelerate the duty. Ibid., Lash away, a phrase to hasten the lashing of hammocks.
1879. Lady Brassey, Sunshine & Storm, 26. Our chairs were lashed.
1889. Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., II. 55. Lash all together by passing a string several times round each end of the package.
