lai

lai · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*leyg-“to jump, spring, play”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*laikaz
3. Frankish · derived from*laik, *laih“play, melody, song”
4. Old French · derived fromlai“song, lyric, poem”
5. Middle English · inherited fromlai
6. English todaylai

From Middle English lai, lay, from Old French lai (“song, lyric, poem”), from Old Frankish *laik, *laih (“play, melody, song”), from Proto-Germanic *laikaz, *laikiz (“jump, play, dance, hymn”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyg- (“to jump, spring, play”). Akin to Old High German leih (“a play, skit, melody, song”), Middle High German leich (“piece of music, epic song played on a harp”), Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌹𐌺𐍃 (laiks, “a dance”), Old English lācan (“to move quickly, fence, sing”). More at lake.

Lai · proper noun²

1. cnh · borrowed fromLai
2. cnh · borrowed fromLai
3. English todayLai

Borrowed from Lai Lai.

Lai · proper noun³

From Chinese 賴／赖 (lài) (Mandarin: lài, Cantonese: laai⁶, Hakka: lai).

Lai · proper noun⁴

From Cantonese 黎 (lai4).

Words from the same roots