elutriate

verb

elu·​tri·​ate ē-ˈlü-trē-ˌāt 

elutriated; elutriating

transitive verb

: to purify, separate, or remove by washing

elutriation

ē-ˌlü-trē-ˈā-shən 

noun

elutriator

ē-ˈlü-trē-ˌā-tər 

noun

Word History

Etymology

Latin elutriatus, past participle of elutriare to put in a vat, perhaps from *elutrum vat, from Greek elytron reservoir, literally, covering

First Known Use

circa 1727, in the meaning defined above