Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Bay
Bay
(bā)
, Adj.
[F.
bai
, fr. L. badius
brown, chestnut-colored; – used only of horses.] Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; – applied to the color of horses.
Bay cat
(Zool.)
, a wild cat of Africa and the East Indies (
– Felis aurata
). Bay lynx
(Zool.)
, the common American lynx (
Lynx lynx
, formerly Felis rufa
or Lynx rufa
).Bay
,Noun.
[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.] 1.
(Geog.)
An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character.
☞ The name is not used with much precision, and is often applied to large tracts of water, around which the land forms a curve; as, Hudson’s
Bay
. The name is not restricted to tracts of water with a narrow entrance, but is used for any recess or inlet between capes or headlands; as, the Bay
of Biscay. 2.
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.
3.
A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.
4.
A principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building, or of the whole building, as marked off by the buttresses, vaulting, mullions of a window, etc.; one of the main divisions of any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.
5.
A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the stalks.
6.
A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay.
Sick bay
, in vessels of war, that part of a deck appropriated to the use of the sick.
Totten.
Bay
,Noun.
[F.
baie
a berry, the fruit of the laurel and other trees, fr. L. baca
, bacca
, a small round fruit, a berry, akin to Lith. bapka
laurel berry.] 1.
A berry, particularly of the laurel.
[Obs.]
2.
The laurel tree (
Laurus nobilis
). Hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel. The patriot's honors and the poet's
bays
. Trumbull.
3.
A tract covered with bay trees.
[Local, U. S.]
Bay leaf
, the leaf of the bay tree (
Laurus nobilis
). It has a fragrant odor and an aromatic taste, and is used for flavoring in food.Bay
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Bayed
(bād)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Baying
.] [OE.
bayen
, abayen
, OF. abaier
, F. aboyer
, to bark; of uncertain origin.] To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.
The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely
bayed
. Dryden.
Bay
,Verb.
T.
To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay;
as, to
. bay
the bearShak.
1.
Deep-toned, prolonged barking.
“The bay of curs.” Cowper.
2.
[OE.
bay
, abay
, OF. abai
, F. aboi
barking, pl. abois
, prop. the extremity to which the stag is reduced when surrounded by the dogs, barking (aboyant
); aux abois
at bay.] A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
Embolden'd by despair, he stood at
bay
. Dryden.
The most terrible evils are just kept at
bay
by incessant efforts. I. Taylor
Bay
,Verb.
T.
[Cf. OE.
bæwen
to bathe, and G. bähen
to foment.] To bathe.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Bay
,Noun.
A bank or dam to keep back water.
Bay
,Verb.
T.
To dam, as water; – with up or back.
Webster 1828 Edition
Bay
BAY
,Adj.
BAY
,Noun.
1.
An arm of the sea, extending into the land, not of any definite form, but smaller than a gulf, and larger than a creek. The name,however, is not used with much precision, and is often applied to large tracts of water, around which the land forms a curve, as Hudson's Bay. Nor is the name restricted to tracts of water with a narrow entrance, but used for any recess or inlet between capes of head lands, as the bay of Biscay.2.
A pond-head,or a pond formed by a dam, for the purpose of driving mill-wheels. [ I believe not used in U.S.]3.
In a barn, a place between the floor and the end of the building, or a low inclosed place, for depositing hay. In England, says Johnson, if a barn consists of a floor and two heads, where they lay corn, they call it a barn of two bays. These bays are from 14 to 20 feet long, and floors from 10 to 12 feet broad, and usually 20 feet long, which is the breadth of the barn.
4.
In ships of war, that part on each side between decks which lies between the bitts.5.
Any kind of opening in walls.