‖ relais, n.
(rəlɛ)
Pl. relais.
[Fr., lit. ‘relay, stage, coaching-inn’.]
In France, a restaurant or café (sometimes also providing overnight accommodation); relais routier [cf. routier n.2 2], one of an association of roadside restaurants orig. designed for lorry drivers and now well known for high-quality food at reasonable prices.
| 1965 New Statesman 5 Nov. 713/1 These diners are roughly equivalent to our pull-ups and the French relais routiers before they were turned into haunts of gastronomic fashion. 1972 W. P. McGivern Caprifoil (1973) ii. 44 We'll use Billy's Relais as a mail-and-phone drop. 1974 Times 10 Oct. 16/3 The swallows which normally fly south..are in the habit of pausing to take a bite at..a relais routiers. 1979 A. Scholefield Point of Honour 56 The Relais deserved its one rosette in the Guide. 1980 Guardian 3 May 13/2 Walkers and cyclists can benefit from the quiet routes and relais... Overnight relais..may be grand châteaux or big farmhouses. |