English
relay
Relay comes from Middle French relai ‘reserve pack of hounds’, and goes back to Old French relaier ‘to leave behind’.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400relaier‘to leave behind’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600relai‘reserve pack of hounds’
- Englishearliest quotation 1846relay
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400relaier‘to leave behind’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600relai‘reserve pack of hounds’
- Englishearliest quotation 1846relay
Earliest quotation: 1846, – 1848 April 1, Retribution: “There is a snaky gleam in her hard grey…”
Every English word from Old French relaier
Today it means
noun A new set of hounds.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French relaier / relay