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waylay

Pronunciation: /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

The English word “waylay” has 2 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To lie in wait for and attack from ambush.
  2. To accost or intercept unexpectedly.

Etymology

From way + lay, likely a calque of Middle Dutch wegelagen (“besetting of ways, lying in wait with evil or hostile intent along public ways”). Compare Middle Low German wegelagen, German wegelagern (“to waylay; rob”).

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