n. [ F. virelai; virer to turn + lai a song, a lay. ] An ancient French song, or short poem, wholly in two rhymes, and composed in short lines, with a refrain. [ 1913 Webster ]
Of such matter made he many lays,
Songs, complains, roundels, virelayes. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
To which a lady sung a virelay. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ “The virelay admitted only two rhymes, and, after employing one for some time, the poet was virer, or to turn, to the other.” Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. [ F. relais (cf. OF. relais relaxation, discontinuance, It. rilascio release, relief, rilasso relay), fr. OF. relaissier to abandon, release, fr. L. relaxare. See Relax. ]
Relay battery (Elec.),
a. (Mach.) Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an auxiliary apparatus put into action by a feeble force but itself capable of exerting greater force, used to control a comparatively powerful machine or appliance. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
. In a variable expansion central-valve engine, a small auxiliary engine for automatically adjusting the steam distribution to the load on the main engine. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
. A speed regulator, as a water-wheel governor, embodying the relay principle. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
v. t.
n. [ F. relais (cf. OF. relais relaxation, discontinuance, It. rilascio release, relief, rilasso relay), fr. OF. relaissier to abandon, release, fr. L. relaxare. See Relax. ]
Relay battery (Elec.),
a. (Mach.) Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an auxiliary apparatus put into action by a feeble force but itself capable of exerting greater force, used to control a comparatively powerful machine or appliance. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
. In a variable expansion central-valve engine, a small auxiliary engine for automatically adjusting the steam distribution to the load on the main engine. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
. A speed regulator, as a water-wheel governor, embodying the relay principle. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]