Lay, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. � of or from the people, lay, from �, �, people. Cf. Laic.] 1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
2. Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.
3. Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding the nature of a disease.
Lay baptism(Eccl.), baptism administered by a lay person. F. G. Lee. — Lay brother(R. C. Ch.), one received into a convent of monks under the three vows, but not in holy orders. — Lay clerk(Eccl.), a layman who leads the responses of the congregation, etc., in the church service. Hook. — Lay days(Com.), time allowed in a charter party for taking in and discharging cargo. McElrath. — Lay elder. See 2d Elder, 3, note.