Also 3–4 lai, 4–6 laie, 4–7 laye. [a. OF. lai (recorded from the 12th c.) = Pr. lais, lays; of uncertain etymology.
The most likely view is that favored by M. Gaston Paris, that the word is of Teut. origin, an adoption of some form of the word represented by OHG., MHG. leich, play, melody, song. The ON. lag (see LAW sb.1), used in the sense of ‘tune,’ would also be phonetically a possible source. Connection with Teut. *leuþo- (OE. léoð, Ger. lied) is out of the question, as are the Celtic words commonly cited: the Irish laoidh is believed to represent an OCeltic type *lūdi-; the Welsh llais voice, sound, is too remote in meaning, and the assumed Breton equivalent is non-existent.]
1. A short lyric or narrative poem intended to be sung.
Originally applied spec. to the poems, usually dealing with matter of history or romantic adventure, which were sung by minstrels. From the 16th to the 18th c, the word was a mere poetical synonym for ‘song.’ This use still continues, but lay is now often employed (partly after G. lied, with which it is often erroneously supposed to be etymologically connected) as the appropriate term for a popular historical ballad such as those on which the Homeric poems are by some believed to be founded. Some writers have misapplied it to long poems of epic character like the Nibelungenlied or Beowulf.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 199. Þer ich habbe þe i-sungen ðesne englissce lai.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 551. An harpour made alay.
c. 1320. Orpheo, 13–16. In Brytayn this layes arne ywrytt … Of aventures that fillen by dayes, Wherof Brytons made her layes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 637. And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe In manere of a compleynt or a lay. Ibid., Frankl. Prol., 2. Thise olde gentil Britons in hir dayes Of diuerse auentures maden layes,… Whiche layes with hir Instrumentz they songe, Or elles redden hem for hir plesance.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 6. Sum has langing of lufe lays to herken.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. xxxi. Thenne came Elyas the harper … and told hym the lay that Dynadan had made by Kynge Marke.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, A j. I made songes layes Roundels balades.
1592. Davies, Immort. Soul, IX. iv. (1714), 60. The holy Angels Choir Doth spread his Glory forth with spiritual Lays.
1608. Shaks., Per., V. Prol. 4. Shee sings like one immortall, and shee daunces As Goddesse-like to her admired layes.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 542. To Bacchus therefore let us tune our Lays.
1714. Gay, Trivia, I. 21. My Country’s Love demands the Lays.
1718. Prior, Solomon, II. 80. Each morn they wak’d me with a sprightly lay; Of opening Heaven they sung.
a. 1758. Ramsay, Some of the Contents, iii. Attackis his freind Dunbar in comick layis.
1805. Scott (title), The Lay of the Last Minstrel.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., Catechism. Why should we think He turns away From infants’ simple lays.
1842. Macaulay (title), Lays of Ancient Rome. Ibid. (1849), Hist. Eng., iii. I. 418. The popular lays chaunted about the streets of Norwich and Leeds in the time of Charles the Second.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xlviii. These brief lays, of Sorrow born.
1886. F. B. Jevons, in Jrnl. Hellenic Studies, VII. 303. The theory of the aggregationists, that the Iliad is an agglomeration of originally independent lays.
b. poet. Applied to the song of birds.
13[?]. K. Alis., 5211. Mery time it is in May, The foules syngeth her lay.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IX. 57. For to leorne the layes that louely foules maden.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 58. The thrustelcok made eek his lay.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 119. Whan every bird upon his lay Among the grene leves singeth.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. iii. 93. Madame, my selfe haue … plac’t a Quier of such enticing Birds, That she will light to listen to the Layes.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., I. 443. Sweet Philomel!… ev’ry star Is deaf to mine, enamour’d of thy lay.
a. 1788. J. Logan, Cuckoo, iv. The school-boy … Starts, the new voice of Spring to hear, And imitates thy lay.
† 2. Strain, tune. Obs.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, IV. 6. Your chorlyshe chauntyng ys all o’ lay.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 118. A continuall ianglyng of this Portingall Coockoe chatteryng alwayes one maner of laye in myne eares.
