LAUÐR
nafnorðhvorugkyn
n., mod. löðr, but the diphthong is borne out by old rhymes as, lauðri, rauða, Fms. vi. 47 (in a verse); nauð, vii. 66; as also by the derivative leyðra, q. v.: [A. S. leaðor = a kind of nitre, used for soap; Engl. lather]:—the froth or foam of the sea water; lauðr var lagt í beði, Fms. vi. 180 (in a verse); ljótu lauðri dreif á lypting, id.; alda lauðri faldin, Orkn. (in a verse); viðr þolir nauð í lauðri, Fms. vii. (in a verse): lauðr Óðins elda, poët. = the blood, Gísl. (in a verse); haf-lauðr, sea-scum, Lex. Poët.; vápn-lauðr = blood.
II. in prose esp. of a kind of nitre or soap used in cleaning, e. g. the head; cp. Swed. lodder = a kind of soap, Engl. lather; ok þó hón höfuð hans, … ok hafði hón eigi þvegit lauðr ór höfði honum, Ísl. ii. 333 (Heiðarv. S.): líneik (the maid) strauk lauðri um skör mína, Vígl. 82 new Ed. (in a verse).