4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the
singular. [Obs.] Halliwell.
5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning,
especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [Written
formerly wayghtes.]
Hark! are the waits abroad?
Beau & Fl.
The sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon
the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony.
W. Irving.
To lay wait, to prepare an ambuscade. — To lie in wait. See under 4th
Lie.
Wait"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, waits; an attendant; a
servant in attendance, esp. at table.
The waiters stand in ranks; the yeomen cry, "Make room," as if a duke
were passing by.
Swift.
2. A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a
salver.
Coast waiter. See under Coast, n.
Wait"ing, a. & n. from Wait, v.
In waiting, in attendance; as, lords in waiting. [Eng.] — Waiting
gentlewoman, a woman who waits upon a person of rank. — Waiting maid,
Waiting woman, a maid or woman who waits upon another as a personal
servant.
Wait"ing*ly, adv. By waiting.
Wait"ress (?), n. A female waiter or attendant; a waiting maid or
waiting woman.
Waive (?), n. [See Waive, v. t. ] 1. A waif; a castaway. [Obs.] Donne.
2. (O. Eng. Law) A woman put out of the protection of the law. See
Waive, v. t., 3 (b), and the Note.
Waive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Waived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Waiving.] [OE.
waiven, weiven, to set aside, remove, OF. weyver, quesver, to waive, of
Scand. origin; cf. Icel. veifa to wave, to vibrate, akin to Skr. vip to
tremble. Cf. Vibrate, Waif.] [Written also wave.]
1. To relinquish; to give up claim to; not to insist on or claim; to
refuse; to forego.
He waiveth milk, and flesh, and all.
Chaucer.
We absolutely do renounce or waive our own opinions, absolutely
yielding to the direction of others.
Barrow.