lath

Dictionary: lath (lăth) pronunciation

n., pl., laths (lăTHz, lăths).

1. A thin strip of wood or metal, usually nailed in rows to framing supports as a substructure for plaster, shingles, slates, or tiles.
2. A building material, such as a sheet of metal mesh, used for similar purposes.
1. A quantity of laths; lathing.
2. Work made with or from lath.

tr.v., lathed, lath·ing, laths.
To build, cover, or line with laths.

[Middle English latthe, probably alteration (influenced by Welsh llath, rod) of Old English lætt.]

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Architecture: lath

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A building material used as a base for the application of plaster; see expanded metal lath, gypsum lath, metal lath, split lath, wood lath.

WordNet: lath

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a narrow thin strip of wood used as backing for plaster or to make latticework

Wikipedia: Lath

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For the Indian politician, see Surendra Lath.

For the machine tool, see lathe.

Uses

The word stems from Old English laett, Mid. Eng. lappe, a form possibly due to the Welsh liath; the word appears in many Teutonic languages, e.g. Dutch lat, German Latte, and has passed into Romanic, cf. Italian latta, French latte), denoting a thin flat strip of wood or other material used in building to form a base or groundwork for plaster, or for tiles, slates or other covering for roofs. Such strips of wood are employed to form lattice-work, or for the bars of venetian blinds or shutters. Riven lath was the stronger forerunner to sawn lath, as it was traditional split with the grain from Chestnut, Oake or similar hardwoods. Lath was used also to fix reed to timber structure before plastering.

Lath cut from spruce or balsam fir trees are used for building wooden lobster traps.

Historical significance

Inch-wide laths after the plaster has been knocked off (under stairs, Kent, UK)

A window with a lattice painted red was formerly a common inn-sign (cf. Shakespeare, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 2. 86); frequently the window was dispensed with, and the sign remained painted on a board.

Gypsum lath consists of gypsum plaster sandwiched between two sheets of absorbent paper. It was invented in 1910, and multiple variations were developed in the 1930s. Gypsum was safer than wood lath as it wasn't combustible, was easier to use, and gave better results. The lath and plaster method declined in the 1950s, as it was replaced by the more efficient drywall.

		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Architecture. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Lath". Read more
		Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more

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lath

Uses

Historical significance

See also