'To lay wait' definitions:

Definition of 'To lay wait'

From: GCIDE
  • Wait \Wait\, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See Wait, v. i.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt. [1913 Webster]
  • There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican town of El Paso. --S. B. Griffin. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Ambush. "An enemy in wait." --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • 4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular. [Obs.] --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [Written formerly wayghtes.] [1913 Webster]
  • Hark! are the waits abroad? --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
  • The sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]
  • To lay wait, to prepare an ambuscade.
  • To lie in wait. See under 4th Lie. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'To lay wait'