Word of the Day

Thursday February 11, 2010

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waylay [WAY-lay]

transitive verb

1. To lie in wait for and attack from ambush , rob, or slay.
2. To await and accost (someone) unexpectedly.

• When ducks and geese really start pouring in, every hunter will be dreaming of finding the best places from which to waylay the flocks. Public hunting land is always an option, but sometimes a guy or gal craves something a little more exclusive, perhaps even hiring a waterfowl hunting guide or booking a stay at a luxe lodge that caters to the waterfowler.
  Kathy Etling, "Waterfowl are on their way", St. Louis Post - Dispatch, Oct 31, 2009
• The 22-year-old brunette was SACKED because she had told her bosses at an events firm she needed the morning off to see a doctor about swine flu. Instead, Sandra had gone to waylay actor Tom Lister - Emmerdale hunk Carl King - as he turned up to guest on ITV1's This Morning. She then put her prized photo on Twitter for pals to see.
  Daniel Jones, "YOU'RE SACKED ... YOU TWITTER! TWIT", The People, Sep 20, 2009
• A bronze group stood upon the landing hidden from me by a corner of the wall; but its shadow fell with marvelous distinctness upon the white paneling, and gave me the impression of some one crouching to waylay me.
  H. G. Wells (1866 – 1946) An English author, best known for the science fiction genre. The Red Room

Origin of the Word

Waylay, approximately 1513, derives from way + lay, on model of Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wegelagen.