way ‧ lay /weɪˈleɪ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle waylaid ) [transitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: way + lay 'to set a trap for' (13-19 centuries) ]
1 . if someone waylays you, they stop you when you are going somewhere, for example to attack you or talk to you:
They used to waylay him as he came out of the factory.
2 . [usually passive] if you are waylaid, you are delayed when you are doing something – often used humorously to say why you are late:
Sorry, we got waylaid at the bar.