lay-away
(ˈleɪəweɪ)
Also layaway.
[lay v.1 49.]
1. Tanning. A vat or pit in which hides are ‘laid away’; = layer n. 4 e. Freq. attrib.
| 1885 A. Watt Art Leather Manuf. xii. 145 The Layers.—In these pits, which are termed lay-aways by the Americans, the butts are stratified with ground oak-bark. 1885 C. T. Davis Manuf. Leather xix. 367 When heat is used on the head leaches the liquor sometimes enters the lay-away yard in a hot condition. 1901 F. T. Addyman tr. Villon's Pract. Treat. Leather Industry 137 Tan-pits or lay-away pits are large vats, sometimes round, and made of oak, bound with iron. 1922 A. Rogers Pract. Tanning x. 303 At this stage..the hides go to the layaways. These are vats large enough to permit the hide being spread out flat. Ibid. 304 All the layaway liquors are not so worked down and out, some being returned to the leach-house to be strengthened and freshened. 1957 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 848/1 The goods are moved from the strongest suspender vats to the layaway vats or floaters. |
2. N. Amer. = lay-by n. 2 b.
| 1961 in Webster. 1967 Boston Sunday Herald 26 Mar. 1. 22/3 Her dress for Easter is on layaway... You can get it out. It only costs $5, but I don't own that much now. 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 25 Sept. 32/7 (Advt.), No Dealers—All Sales Final—Christmas Lay-A-Ways... Sale at Toronto Warehouse. 1973 Houston (Texas) Chron. 21 Oct. 2/1 (Advt.), Use our layaway plan for Christmas! |
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Add: [2.] b. concr. (An item of) merchandise that has been reserved for a customer who has paid a deposit.
| 1974 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) 15 Feb. 11-b/2 (Advt.), Unclaimed layaway... Includes 2pc. black vinyl tuxedo sofa and chair. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 23 Oct. 10/5 Under a headline of ‘False Advertising is Stealing’, the ads advise consumers to be chary of familiar phrases such as ‘Unclaimed layaway’, ‘Going out of business’, [etc.]. 1977 Washington Post 1 July d9/5 Only supervisory personnel was on hand to take care of layaways and alterations. 1988 N.Y. Times 21 Feb. xi. 21/1 Layaways can be held for two weeks, but with no exchanges or credits. |