v. Naut. Obs. exc. in literary use. Forms: 6–7 lavere, (7 laver, -eir, -ier, 7–8 loft-veer), 7– laveer. [ad. Du. laveeren, in 17th c. also loevéren, MDu. laeveren, loveren, ad. F. (16th c.) loveer, now louvoyer (for the suffix in Du. cf. domineren DOMINEER v.), f. lof windward (of Du. or LG. origin: see LUFF). The Du. word has been adopted in other langs. as G. lavieren, Sw. lofvera, Da. lavere.] intr. To beat to windward; to tack.
1598. W. Phillips, trans. Linschoten, I. xcvi. 179. The Indian ships … durst not anker there; but only vsed to lauere to and fro.
1608. Hieron, 2nd Pt. Def. Ministers’ Reasons for Refus. Subscript., 149. The winde being against him, he laveirs and turneth another tacke.
1648. Earl Westmoreland, Otia Sacra (1879), 163. Lie on a Tack Port and Laveer, Sometimes to weather, then to Lee.
1662. Dryden, Astræa Redux, 65. Those that ’gainst stiff gales laveering go, Must be at once resolv’d and skilful too.
1718. J. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos. (1730), II. xix. § 58. They can always pass through this Streight by Laveering or Tacking, even tho’ the Wind be contrary.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., V. xxiii. 593. It went for the Chesapeake, laveering against the stiff southerly winds of the season.
fig. a. 1667. Cowley, Liberty, Verses & Ess. (1687), 8. To bend and turn about his own Nature, and laveer with every wind.
1800. W. Taylor, in Monthly Mag., X. 319. Instead of bearing down on the point for which he is bound … Klopstock is continually laveering.
1885. Mrs. C. L. Pirkis, Lady Lovelace, II. xxiii. 55. Neither skilful nor resolved enough to ‘laveer’ against them [the fates].
Hence † Laveerer, one who laveers.
1670. Clarendon, Ess., Tracts (1727), 183. They [the Schoolmen] are the best Laveerers of the World.
