bay
/ˈbeɪ̯/ noun, verb, adjective, proper noun
Forms bays baying bayed bayer bayest the Bay
- noun (geography) A body of water (especially the sea) contained by a concave shoreline. “This hotel has a great view across the bay.”
- noun A bank or dam to keep back water.
- noun (countable) A tree or shrub of species Laurus nobilis (family Lauraceae), having dark green leaves and berries.
- noun (uncountable) Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.
- noun (uncountable) Mahogany of species Swietenia macrophylla obtained from Campeche in Mexico.
- noun (in the plural, now rare) The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.
- noun (US, dialect) A tract covered with bay trees.
- noun (obsolete) A berry.
- noun An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.
- noun An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.
- noun A display unit in a shop or store, especially a large metal one. “end bay”
- noun A section of ceiling delineated by supports such as rafters or vaulting ribs.
- noun (nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.
- noun (rail transport) A bay platform.
- noun A bay window.
- noun A room for editing video footage or physical film.
- noun The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.
- noun (by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.
- noun (uncountable, figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
- verb (intransitive) To howl.
Synonyms
gulf bay laurel Grecian laurel laurel sweet bay true laurel bay tree laurels embayment Laurus nobilis alcove quest
Etymology
From French baie, from Late Latin baia, probably ultimately from Iberian or Basque badia. Partly displaced native Old English byht, whence bight.
From Middle English baye, baie, from Old English beġ (“berry”), as in beġbēam (“berry-tree”), conflated with Old French baie, from Latin bāca (“berry”).
From Middle English, from Old French baee, beee, from the verb beer (“gape open”), from Early Medieval Latin batāre. Compare Modern French baie. More at bevel, badinage.
From the root *bai, combined with aphetized form of abay; verbal form of baier, abaier.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; --applied to the color of horses. Bay cat (Zoöl.), a wild cat of Africa and the East Indies (Felis aurata).
- noun An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character.
- noun A small body of water set off from the main body; as a compartment containing water for a wheel; the portion of a canal just outside of the gates of a lock, etc.
- noun A berry, particularly of the laurel. [Obs.]
Etymology [F. bai, fr. L. badius brown, chestnutcolored; -- used only of horses.]
Etymology [F. baie, fr. LL. baia. Of uncertain origin: cf. Ir. & Gael. badh or bagh bay harbor, creek; Bisc. baia, baiya, harbor, and F. bayer to gape, open the mouth.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “bay”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details