lay day

noun

1. Commerce.,  one of a certain number of days allowed by a charter party for loading or unloading a vessel without demurrage.

2. Nautical.,  a day in which a vessel is delayed in port.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lay day¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

After a lay day Thursday, the course likely will be used again in racing on Friday because of its distance from land.

Read more on Seattle Times

Lee praised a decision by more than 60 guardsmen to lay day down their shields at the request of the peaceful demonstrators outside the state Capitol building on Monday.

Read more on Washington Times

Now Wang Lung’s uncle and his wife had long since smoked all the flesh off their bones and they lay day in and day out on their beds like two old dry sticks, and there was no warmth in them.

Read more on Literature

The four races will be sailed Thursday, which had been a lay day.

Read more on Washington Times

If no racing is possible due to the conditions on Bermuda's Great Sound on Wednesday, it will be postponed to Thursday, which was earmarked as a "lay day" in the regatta for crews to regroup before the next round of races.

Read more on Reuters