The Collaborative International Dictionary
Lay \Lay\, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people, lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. Laic.]
Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
Not educated or cultivated; ignorant. [Obs.]
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Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding the nature of a disease.
Lay baptism (Eccl.), baptism administered by a lay person.
--F. G. Lee.Lay brother (R. C. Ch.), one received into a convent of monks under the three vows, but not in holy orders.
Lay clerk (Eccl.), a layman who leads the responses of the congregation, etc., in the church service.
--Hook.Lay days (Com.), time allowed in a charter party for taking in and discharging cargo.
--McElrath.Lay elder. See 2d Elder, 3, note.
Wiktionary
n. (plural of lay day English)