de·lay / diˈlā/ • v. [tr.] make (someone or something) late or slow: the train was delayed. ∎  [intr.] be late or slow; loiter: time being of the essence, they delayed no longer. ∎  postpone or defer (an action).• n. a period of time by which something is late or postponed. ∎  the action of delaying or being delayed: I set off without delay.DERIVATIVES: de·lay·er n.

delay put off till later XIII; impede the progress of XIV. — OF. delayer, var. of deslaier, presumably f. des- DIS- + laier leave (of unkn. orig.).
So delay sb. XIII. — (O)F. délai, f. the vb.