Relay

n. [Fr. relais, O. Fr. & Pr. relais, relaxation, discontinuance, It. rilascio, release, relief, from O. Fr. relaisser, to abandon, release, to stop from weariness, It. rilasciare, from Lat. relaxare. See RELAX.]

1Sense 1. A supply of any thing arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief; as, specifically, (a.) A supply of horses placed on the road to be in readiness to relieve others, that a traveler may proceed without delay. (b.) A supply of hunting dogs kept in readiness at certain places to pursue the game, when the dogs that have been in pursuit are weary.

2Sense 2. (Electric Telegraphy.) A magnet which receives the circuit current, and is caused by it to bring into action the power of a local battery, for performing the work of recording.

Relay battery, the local battery which is brought into use by the action of the relay magnet, or relay.