lay days

Lay \Lay\, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people,
   lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the
      clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Not educated or cultivated; ignorant. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular
      profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding
      the nature of a disease.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Lay baptism} (Eccl.), baptism administered by a lay person.
      --F. G. Lee.

   {Lay brother} (R. C. Ch.), one received into a convent of
      monks under the three vows, but not in holy orders.

   {Lay clerk} (Eccl.), a layman who leads the responses of the
      congregation, etc., in the church service. --Hook.

   {Lay days} (Com.), time allowed in a charter party for taking
      in and discharging cargo. --McElrath.

   {Lay elder}. See 2d {Elder}, 3, note.
      [1913 Webster]
    

LAY DAYS, mar. law. The time allowed to the master of a vessel for loading 
and unloading the same. In the absence of any custom to the contrary, 
Sundays are to be computed in the calculation of lay days at the port of 
discharge. 10 Mees. & Wels. 331. See 3 Esp. 121. They differ from demurrage. 
(q.v.)