Bay (?), a. [F. bai, fr. L. badius brown, chestnutcolored; -- 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 (Felis, or Lynx, rufa).
© Webster 1913.
Bay, n. [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. Geol.
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 foe 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.
© Webster 1913.
Bay, n. [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.
© Webster 1913.
Bay, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bayed (); 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.
© Webster 1913.
Bay (?), v. t.
To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Bay (?), n. [See Bay, v. i.]
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
© Webster 1913.
Bay, v. t. [Cf. OE. baewen to bathe, and G. bahen to foment.]
To bathe.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
Bay, n.
A bank or dam to keep back water.
© Webster 1913.
Bay, v. t.
To dam, as water; -- with up or back.
© Webster 1913.