splay / splā/ • v. [tr.] thrust or spread (things, esp. limbs or fingers) out and apart: her hands were splayed across his broad shoulders he stood with his legs and arms splayed out. ∎  [intr.] (esp. of limbs or fingers) be thrust or spread out and apart: his legs splayed out in front of him. ∎  [intr.] (of a thing) diverge in shape or position; become wider or more separated: the river splayed out, deepening to become an estuary. ∎  [usu. as adj.] (splayed) construct (a window, doorway, or aperture) so that it diverges or is wider at one side of the wall than the other: the walls are pierced by splayed window openings.• n. 1. a widening or outward tapering of something, in particular: ∎  a tapered widening of a road at an intersection to increase visibility. ∎  a splayed window aperture or other opening.2. a surface making an oblique angle with another, such as the splayed side of a window or embrasure. ∎  the degree of bevel or slant of a surface.• adj. [usu. in comb.] turned outward or widened: the girls were sitting splay-legged.

splay.
1. Any surface, larger than a bevel or chamfer, making an oblique angle with another surface, such as a jamb of an aperture admitting more light.

2. Embrasure.See also reveal.

splay †unfold (a banner) XIV; spread out XV. Aphetic of DISPLAY.
Hence sb. (archit.) work deviating from a right angle; adj., as in splayfoot(ed). XVI.