relay

relay · noun, verb¹

1. Old French · derived fromrelaier“to leave behind”
2. Middle French · derived fromrelai“reserve pack of hounds”
3. English todayrelay

From Middle French relai (“reserve pack of hounds”), from relaier (“to exchange tired animals for fresh”); literally, "to leave behind", from Old French relaier (“to leave behind”), from re- + laier (“to leave”), of uncertain origin.

relay · verb²

1. Proto-Italic*wre-
2. Latinre-
3. Old Frenchre-
4. Middle Englishre-
5. Englishre-
6. Proto-Indo-European*legʰ-
7. Proto-Indo-European*logʰéyeti
8. Proto-Germanic*lagjaną
9. Proto-West Germanic*laggjan
10. Old Englishleċġan
11. Middle Englishleyen
12. Englishlay
13. English todayrelay

From re- + lay.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A new set of hounds.
• from 17th c. A new set of horses kept along a specific route so that they can replace animals that are tired.
• from 18th c. A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.
• from 19th c. A track and field discipline where runners take turns in carrying a baton from start to finish. The most common events are 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter competitions.
• from 19th c. An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current.
• from 19th c. To pass on or transfer (information).
• 15th–17th c. To release a new set of hounds.
• from 18th c. To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over from another.