[ lə'veɪbəʊ , lə'vα:- ]
■ noun ( plural ~s )
1》 a towel or basin used for the ritual washing of the celebrant's hands at the offertory of the Catholic Mass.
↘ritual washing of this type.
2》 'lavəbəʊ a washing trough in a monastery.
↘ dated a washbasin or toilet.
Origin
C18: from L., lit. 'I will wash', in Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas 'I will wash my hands in innocence' (Ps. 26:6).