Etymology 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.
Hobbies, Hunting, LifestyleRare A new set of hounds.
2
Historical A new set of horses kept along a specific route so that they can replace animals that are tired.
3
Broadly A new set of anything.
There is a snaky gleam in her hard grey eye, as of anticipated rounds of buttered toast, relays of hot chops, worryings and quellings of young children, sharp snappings at poor Berry, and all the other delights of her Ogress's castle.1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, “Retribution”, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 594:
Bank-notes fluttered down and lay about in all directions, relays of sovereigns rolled away like so much dross, […]1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
4
A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.
5
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A competition between teams where members of a team take turns completing parts of a course or performing a certain action.
6
Athletics, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports 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.
Etymology 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.
1
To pass on or transfer (information).
The CCTV cameras relay what's going on to the headquarters.
Can you relay this message to John?
2
Hobbies, Hunting, LifestyleObsolete To release a new set of hounds.
3
Archaic To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over from another.
4
Archaic To take on a new relay of horses; to change horses.