[Immediately connected with BAY sb.5, but whether as its source or derivative does not appear; the latter is more likely. Supposing the vb. to be the source, it has been conjecturally derived from ON. bægjan ‘to push back, hinder’; it might also be referred to ‘hold at bay’ in some of its uses (see BAY sb.4); or even to BAY sb.2 or 3 in some of their applications.] trans. To obstruct, dam (water): often with up, back.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. (1641), 18/2. He, whose pow’rfull hand Bay’d-up the Red-Sea with a double Wall.
1635. Carpenter, Geog. Del., II. x. 177. By baying vp the Riuers into certaine Artificiall Channells.
1883. Sir A. Hobhouse, Law Rep., IX. Appeal 177. The defendants’ barrier has been found to bay back the water to a maximum depth of twenty-two inches.
