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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To lay wait

Wait \Wait\, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See Wait, v. i.]

  1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.

    There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican town of El Paso.
    --S. B. Griffin.

  2. Ambush. ``An enemy in wait.''
    --Milton.

  3. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.]

  4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular. [Obs.]
    --Halliwell.

  5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [Written formerly wayghtes.]

    Hark! are the waits abroad?
    --Beau. & Fl.

    The sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony.
    --W. Irving.

    To lay wait, to prepare an ambuscade.

    To lie in wait. See under 4th Lie.