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(), a.[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 (Zol.), a wild cat of Africa and the East Indies (Felis aurata). Bay lynx (Zol.), the common American lynx (Felis, or Lynx, rufa). 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. (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 betw 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. Bay v. i.[imp. & p. p.Bayed (bd); 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 (), v. t.To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear. Shak. 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 Bay v. t.[Cf. OE. bwen to bathe, and G. bhen to foment.] To bathe. [Obs.] Spenser. Bay n.A bank or dam to keep back water. Bay v. t.To dam, as water; -- with up or back. スポンサード リンク
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