bay

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A part of the sea or a lake that curves into the land.

   This hotel has a great view across the bay.

2. 2
   noun

   A separate area or section set apart for a particular use.

   The mechanic drove the car into the repair bay.

3. 3
   adj

   Of a horse, having a reddish-brown coat.

   Your new horse has a beautiful bay coat.

4. 4
   verb

   Of a dog, to make long, deep barking sounds.

   The hounds bayed loudly as they chased the fox.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Bay has several unrelated origins. The verb for a hound’s cry is medieval and probably imitates the sound; at bay arose from hunting and originally meant “cornered and forced to face one’s attackers.” A geographical bay comes through Old French baie from Old Spanish bahia, with no earlier origin known. The bay tree takes its name through Old French from Latin baca, “berry,” while the architectural bay comes from Old French baie and ultimately from baer, “to gape.”

From Middle English bay, bai, from Old French bai, from Latin badius (“reddish brown, chestnut”).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary