I. ˈlaks adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin laxus loose — more at slack
Date: 14th century
1.
a. of the bowels : loose , open
b. : having loose bowels
2. : deficient in firmness : not stringent
lax control
a lax foreman
3.
a. : not tense, firm, or rigid : slack
a lax rope
b. : having an open or loose texture
c. : having the constituents spread apart
a lax flower cluster
4. : articulated with the muscles involved in a relatively relaxed state (as the vowel i in contrast with the vowel ē)
Synonyms: see negligent
• lax·a·tion lak-ˈsā-shən noun
• lax·ly ˈlaks-lē adverb
• lax·ness noun
II. noun
Etymology: by shortening & alteration ( x as symbol for -crosse )
Date: 1951
: lacrosse