splay

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to spread or turn outward and apart, especially from a central point

   The lizard splayed its toes across the warm stone.

2. 2
   adj

   spread, turned, or directed outward, often awkwardly

   The chair stood on four splay legs angled away from its seat.

3. 3
   noun

   architecture: an outward bevel or widening around the side of an opening such as a door or window

   The deep window splay directed more daylight into the room.

Multiword verbs with splay

• splay out Phrasal verb C2

  to spread outward and apart from a central point

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Splay originated in Middle English as a shortened form of display. Display came through Old French from Latin displicare “scatter, disperse,” which developed the sense “unfold” in medieval Latin.

From Middle English splaien or splayen, a shortened form of displayen, 'to unfold or spread out,' ultimately from Old French despleier. The architectural noun and the adjective developed from the verb's central idea of opening or turning outward.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary