bay
 I. bay1 (bā)n.
1. A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea:
the Bay of Biscay.
2. An area of land, such as an arm of prairie partially enclosed by woodland, that resembles in shape or formation a partially enclosed body of water. [Middle English, from Old French baie, perhaps from baer, to open out, gape. See bay2.] II. bay2 (bā)n.
1. Architecture. A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters:
an arcade divided into ten bays.
2. Architecture.
a. A bay window.
b. An opening or recess in a wall.
3. A section or compartment, as in a service station, barn, or aircraft, that is set off for a specific purpose:
a cargo bay; an engine bay.
4. A sickbay.
5. Computer Science. A drive bay. [Middle English, from Old French baee, an opening, from baer, to gape, from Vulgar Latin *badāre.] III. bay3 (bā)adj.
Reddish-brown:
a bay colt.n.
1. A reddish brown.
2. A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail. [Middle English, from Old French bai, from Latin badius.] IV. bay4 (bā)n.
1. A deep, prolonged bark, such as the sound made by hounds.
2. The position of one cornered by pursuers and forced to turn and fight at close quarters:
The hunters brought their quarry to bay.
3. The position of having been checked or held at a distance: “He has seen the nuclear threat held at bay for 40 years” (Earl W. Foell). v. bayed, bay·ing, baysv. intr.
To utter a deep, prolonged bark.v. tr.
1. To pursue or challenge with barking: “I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon” (Shakespeare).
2. To express by barking or howling:
a mob baying its fury.
3. To bring to bay: “too big for the dogs which tried to bay it” (William Faulkner). [Middle English, from abai, cornering a hunted animal, from Old French, from abaiier, to bark, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *abbaiāre: Latin ad-, ad- + Vulgar Latin *badāre, to gape, yawn. V., from Middle English baien, to bark from abaien, from Old French abaiier.] V. bay5 (bā)n.
1. See laurel.
2. Any of certain other trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage, such as the California laurel.
3. A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves and branches of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory.
4. Honor; renown. Often used in the plural. [Middle English, from Old French baie, berry, from Latin bāca.]
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