splay
splay Lexical Profile
splay Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To thrust or spread out and apart, especially of limbs, fingers, or toes.
"The newborn giraffe had to splay its front legs awkwardly to reach the water hole."
To construct an opening, such as a window or doorway, with beveled or diverging sides that slant outward.
"The architect chose to splay the recessed window frames so that natural light could penetrate deeper into the hall."
• noun
An outward spreading, expansion, or divergence from a central point.
"The wide splay of the tree's roots made it difficult to lay a flat stone path nearby."
A beveled or slanted surface, especially one cut into the sides of a wall opening such as a window or doorway to admit more light.
"The thick stone walls of the medieval chapel featured deep window splays that channeled sunlight into the dim interior."
• adjective
Turned outward or spread apart widely and often awkwardly, especially of feet or limbs.
"The duck waddled across the courtyard on its flat, splay feet."
• Rhymes for splay
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating back to the 14th century, 'splay' originated in Middle English as an aphetic shortening of 'display', which came from Old French despleier ('to unfold') and ultimately Latin displicare ('to scatter' or 'unfold').