lay down

Definition

To give up, surrender, or yield (e.g. a weapon), usually by placing it on the ground.

Etymology

From Middle English leyen doun, leien doun (“to lay down”), equivalent to lay + down.

Example Sentences

• "The police urged the gunman to lay down his weapon."
• "Lay down your arms."
• "Two standard types of flat-bottom track were introduced as early as 1949, and some 1,570 miles had been laid down to the end of 1950."