waylay

English

Etymology

From way +‎ lay, likely a calque of Middle Dutch wegelagen (“besetting of ways, lying in wait with evil or hostile intent along public ways”). Compare Middle Low German wegelagen, German wegelagern (“to waylay; rob”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌweɪˈleɪ/, /ˈweɪleɪ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈweɪleɪ/
  • Rhymes: -eɪ

Verb

waylay (third-person singular simple present waylays, present participle waylaying, simple past and past participle waylaid or (nonstandard) waylayed)

  1. (transitive) To lie in wait for and attack from ambush.
  2. (transitive) To accost or intercept unexpectedly.

Translations

See also

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