Lau means: A verb in Polari, the British gay subculture cant language, meaning to put down or place something. Polari had a distinct vocabulary drawn from Romani, Italian, and other sources, and was used as a. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. It has drug-related associations; worth a calm conversation about which side of the topic your teen is on. As a place or proper-name reference it is purely descriptive.
lau
A verb in Polari, the British gay subculture cant language, meaning to put down or place something.
Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
A verb in Polari, the British gay subculture cant language, meaning to put down or place something. Polari had a distinct vocabulary drawn from Romani, Italian, and other sources, and was used as a coded language in mid-20th century British gay communities. Now largely of historical and linguistic interest.
He told her to lau the drinks on the table and stop hovering.
Origin: From Polari, ultimately perhaps from Italian or Romani; exact origin debated. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents
Lau means: A verb in Polari, the British gay subculture cant language, meaning to put down or place something. Polari had a distinct vocabulary drawn from Romani, Italian, and other sources, and was used as a. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. It has drug-related associations; worth a calm conversation about which side of the topic your teen is on. As a place or proper-name reference it is purely descriptive.
For ESL learners
lau means: A verb in Polari, the British gay subculture cant language, meaning to put down or place something. Polari had a distinct vocabulary drawn from Romani, Italian, and other sources,. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: mediocre
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(Polari) To place upon; to put down onto.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "lau" (L)
LatinxlatitatlatrineLatrinolat sahiblatte levylaughlaughaholiclaugh die melaughing academylaughing gearlaughing jackass
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Semantically related
- polari65%
(ambitransitive) To speak or talk, particularly in slang or cant.
- fatcha65%
A Polari word meaning a face. Polari was a form of secret slang used primarily by gay men and circus and theater performers in Britain, particularly active from the 19th century through the 1960s and 70s. 'Fatcha' (sometimes spelled 'fachah') is believed to derive from Italian 'faccia' (face), reflecting Polari's heavy borrowing from Italian and Romany. Polari fell out of widespread use after homosexuality was decriminalized in Britain, though it has experienced a cultural revival of interest.
- lair it up63%
(slang, Australia, New Zealand) To behave flamboyantly; to act out; to be showy.
- lairize62%
An obsolete Australian slang verb meaning to act in a flashy, ostentatious, or showy manner. Derived from 'lair' (Australian slang for a flashy, vulgar person), this verb form is now largely dated. The noun 'lair' and adjective 'lairy' (gaudy, inappropriately showy) survive in current Australian English, making 'lairize' the effectively extinct verb form of a still-active word family. 'Lairy' remains current while the verb quietly retired.