relay English · revision 15402

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1369}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹiːleɪ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|relai]], [[bor|frm|relai|t=reserve pack of hounds]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|fro|relaier|t=to exchange tired animals for fresh; to leave behind]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|fro|re-|t=back]] and [[m|fro|laier|t=to leave]] (see [[delay]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps a variant of [[fro|laissier]], from [[la|laxō|t=to slacken]] (see [[lax]]).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Watkins instead derives it from [[frk|*laibjan]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Hounds placed along a line of chase to replace tired ones: 1369, in Chaucer's ''Book of the Duchess'', in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to take a fresh horse, is probably from before 1400,^(Barnhart 1988) and to supply fresh hounds from about 1410.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A set of fresh horses kept ready at stages along a route is from 1659,^(OED 1989) and a set of people relieving others from 1808.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) The word seemed to fade out by the 19th century but was revived in electromagnetics:^(Etymonline) a device by which a weak current switches a stronger circuit is from 1860,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and to pass on a message by relays from 1878.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The relay race is from 1898.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1369 – a relay of hounds.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1659 – fresh horses at stages.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1860 – an electrical relay.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1878 – to relay a message.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1898 – relay race.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A race between teams in which each member runs part of the distance; a [[relay race]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A device in which a small current or voltage change switches another circuit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of people or animals that takes over from another, as on a shift.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of passing something along from one person or station to another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To pass on a message or information; to [[broadcast]] or retransmit a signal.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[relay race]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[delay]]

+ * [[lax]]

+ * [[release]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Relay'', to lay again (re-lay), is a separate formation from 1590.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}