The word 'waylay' is a transparent compound from two native English elements. It literally means "to lie in wait by the road or path." The term emerged in the early 16th century, combining 'way' (from Proto-Germanic wegaz, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root weǵh- meaning "to go, transport") and 'lay' in its now-archaic sense of "to lie in ambush." This original, concrete meaning of setting an ambush on a traveler's route has evolved into the modern, more abstract sense of intercepting or accosting someone, often with hostile or unexpected intent, regardless of the specific location.

Structure: way (road/path) + lay (to place/set) - way: From Old English 'weg' (road, path, course of travel). Functional role: The base noun indicating the location. - lay: From Old English 'lecgan' (to place, put, set down). Functional role: The verb indicating the action performed.