Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun historical A mostly North European form of medieval song, with stanzas that do not repeat.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English lai, lay, from Old French lai ("song, lyric, poem"), from Old Frankish *laik, *laih ("play, melody, song"), from Proto-Germanic *laikaz, *laikiz (“jump, play, dance, hymn”), from Proto-Indo-European *loig-, *(e)laiǵ- (“to jump, spring, play”). Akin to Old High German leih ("a play, skit, melody, song"), Middle High German leich ("piece of music, epic song played on a harp"), Gothic  (laiks, "a dance"), Old English lācan ("to move quickly, fence, sing"). More at lake.

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Examples

  • To express an interrogative, we say, — 他来不来 _t'a lai pu lai_ = "he come no come?"

    China and the Chinese Herbert Allen Giles 1890

  • The process is called lai, or pulling: A damp towel is placed over a hot metal surface, a thin layer of rice-flour batter is spread on top, and when the translucent sheet turns opaque -- a signal it is done, which happens within seconds -- the burning-hot cloth must be ripped away from the rice-flour sheet in a quick pulling motion.

    The Heart of Dim Sum Amy Ma 2010

  • That's very accurate: Tahitians are obsessed with flowers, and always give you a "lai", or flower-garland, as soon as you get off the boat.

    Another view on Gauguin: Maker of Myth 2010

  • Cause the 'lai's and the' he's have something against each other. - shrugs - I don't even know if im a lai or a sun.

    yanxious Diary Entry yanxious 2006

  • And if you wish to see the whole meaning of life as the romance actually understood it, you have but to turn again to that 'lai' of Mary of

    The Unity of Civilization Various

  • That's very accurate: Tahitians are obsessed with flowers, and always give you a "lai", or flower-garland, as soon as you get off the boat.

    The Guardian World News Laura Barnett 2010

  • (Hanover, 1908).] [Footnote 142: In fact, nothing is known of this "lai", if, indeed, it ever existed.

    Four Arthurian Romances de Troyes Chr��tien 1914

  • For a recent definition of "lai", se L. Foulet in "Ztsch. fur romanische Philologie", xxxii. 161 f.] [Footnote 143: The sterling was the English silver penny, 240 of which equalled 1 Pound Sterling of silver of 5760 grains 925 fine.

    Four Arthurian Romances de Troyes Chr��tien 1914

  • Chou En-lai was a coach as good as friend of U Peng.

    Batin Itam: The Li Blood Line admin 2009

  • Chou En-lai was a coach as good as friend of U Peng.

    Archive 2009-12-01 admin 2009

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