what is a lai?
Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: A lai is a lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance. Lais were mainly composed in France and Germany, during the 13th and 14th centuries. The English term lay is a 13th-century loan from Old French lai. The origin of the French term itself is unclear, perhaps it is itself a loan from German Leich. An Old Occitan term for a similar kind of poem is descort. The terms note, nota and notula appear to be have been synonyms for lai.