levant
[ li-vant ]
/ lɪˈvænt /
verb (used without object) British Slang.
to leave secretly or hurriedly to avoid paying debts.
Origin of levant
1750–60; perhaps < Spanish
levantar to lift (Compare
levantar el campo to break camp, leave), frequentative of
levar < Latin
levāre
OTHER WORDS FROM levant
le·vant·er, nounWords nearby levant
lev-,
lev.,
levade,
levallois-perret,
levalloisian,
levant,
levant dollar,
levant storax,
levant wormseed,
levanter,
levantine
Definition for levant (2 of 2)
Levant
[ li-vant ]
/ lɪˈvænt /
noun
the lands bordering the E shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Also called Levant morocco.
a superior grade of morocco having a large and prominent grain, originally made in the Levant.
Origin of Levant
1490–1500; earlier
levaunt < Middle French
levant, noun use (with reference to rising sun) of present participle of
lever to raise (
se lever to rise). See
lever
Example sentences from the Web for levant
British Dictionary definitions for levant (1 of 3)
levant
1
/ (lɪˈvænt) /
noun
a type of leather made from the skins of goats, sheep, or seals, having a pattern of irregular creases
Word Origin for levant
C19: shortened from
Levant morocco (type of leather)
British Dictionary definitions for levant (2 of 3)
levant
2
/ (lɪˈvænt) /
verb
(intr) British
to bolt or abscond, esp to avoid paying debts
Word Origin for levant
C18: perhaps from Spanish
levantar (
el campo) to break (camp)
British Dictionary definitions for levant (3 of 3)
Levant
/ (lɪˈvænt) /
noun
the Levant
a former name for the area of the E Mediterranean now occupied by Lebanon, Syria, and Israel
Word Origin for Levant
C15: from Old French, from the present participle of
lever to raise (referring to the rising of the sun in the east), from Latin
levāre