LAY (6)

Lay (?), a. [[OF. lai, lais, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. laoi, laoidh, song, poem, OIr. laoidh poem, verse; but cf. also AS. lāc play, sport, G. leich a sort of poem (cf. Lake to sport). �.]] 1. 1. A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad. Spenser. Sir W. Scott.
2. 2. A melody; any musical utterance.
The throstle cock made eke his lay. Chaucer.