1. One of the people, in distinction from the clergy; one of the laity; sometimes, a man not belonging to some particular profession, in distinction from those who do. Being a layman, I ought not to have concerned myself with speculations which belong to the profession. Dryden.
2. A lay figure. See under Lay, n. (above). Dryden
LAYNER
Lay"ner, n.Etym: [See Lanier.]
Defn: A whiplash. [Obs.]
LAY READER
Lay" read"er. (Eccl.)
Defn: A layman authorized to read parts of the public service of the church.
LAY SHAFT; LAYSHAFT
Lay shaft, or Lay"shaft`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A secondary shaft, as in a sliding change gear for an automobile; a cam shaft operated by a two-to-one gear in an internal- combustion engine. It is generally a shaft moving more or less independently of the other parts of a machine, as, in some marine engines, a shaft, driven by a small auxiliary engine, for independently operating the valves of the main engine to insure uniform motion.
LAYSHIP
Lay"ship, n.
Defn: The condition of being a layman. [Obs.] Milton.