Etymology

From Middle French delai, from Old French delai, delaie ‎(“delay”), from Old French delaiier, delayer, deslaier ‎(“to put off, delay, offlet, drain”) (délayer in modern French), from des- + Old French laier ‎(“to leave”), partly from Frankish *latjan ‎(“to delay, hinder”), from Proto-Germanic *latjaną ‎(“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *le(y)d- ‎(“to leave, leave behind”), and partly from Frankish *laibjan ‎(“to leave”), from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną ‎(“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- ‎(“to remain, continue”). Akin to Old English latian ‎(“to delay, hesitate”), Old English lǣfan ‎(“to leave”). More at delay.