What is "to lay about"

Lay \Lay\, v. i.

1. To produce and deposit eggs.

2. (Naut.) To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to lay aloft.

3. To lay a wager; to bet.

   To lay about, or To lay about one, to strike vigorously in all directions.
   --J. H. Newman.

   To lay at, to strike or strike at.
   --Spenser.

   To lay for, to prepare to capture or assault; to lay wait for. [Colloq.]
   --Bp Hall.

   To lay in for, to make overtures for; to engage or secure the possession of. [Obs.] ``I have laid in for these.''
   --Dryden.

   To lay on, to strike; to beat; to attack.
   --Shak.

   To lay out, to purpose; to plan; as, he lays out to make a journey.