▪ I. † unlay, n. Sc. Obs.
[un-1 12 + lay n.]
= unlaw n. 2.
| 1503 Sc. Acts, Jas. IV (1814) II. 242/2 At þat be ane punt of dittay in tyme to cum, and at þe vnlay þerof be x li. Ibid., Item, as anent þe vnlay of þe grene wod. |
▪ II. unˈlay, v.
[un-2 3.]
trans. To untwist (a rope) into separate strands.
| 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 436 Till we could unlay our best cable to make more. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. ii. 135 We were..obliged to unlay a cable to work into running rigging. 1831 J. Porter Sir E. Seaward's Narr. I. 123, I also took thence a piece of rope, which I unlaid. c 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 28 Unlay the other two strands. |