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launderette

noun
/lɔːnˈdɹɛt/UK/lɔndəˈɹɛt/US

Etymology

Genericized trademark of Launderette; originally a proprietary name (1940s) of Bendix corporation, from launder + -ette.

  1. derived from lavō
  2. derived from lavandera
  3. derived from lavandiere
  4. inherited from lavender
  5. suffixed as launderette — “launder + ette”

Definitions

  1. A place that has facilities for washing and drying clothes that the public may pay to use.

  2. A money laundering operation.

    • The distinction is by no means watertight as any 'money launderette' may become a money launderer – and hence be guilty of a money laundering offence – the moment it knowingly engages in a money laundering operation.
    • From drug money to terrorist finance: the launderette's many different washing cycles

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for launderette. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA