Bay

Bay (bā), 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 (Zoöl.), a wild cat of Africa and the East Indies (Felis aurata). — Bay lynx (Zoöl.), 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 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.

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 (bād); 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 (bā), 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. bæwen to bathe, and G. bähen 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.