The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Delay \De*lay"\, n.; pl. Delays. [F. d['e]lai, fr. OF. deleer
   to delay, or fr. L. dilatum, which, though really from a
   different root, is used in Latin only as a p. p. neut. of
   differre to carry apart, defer, delay. See Tolerate, and
   cf. Differ, Delay, v.]
   A putting off or deferring; procrastination; lingering
   inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance.
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         Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment
         seat.                                    --Acts xxv.
                                                  17.
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         The government ought to be settled without the delay of
         a day.                                   --Macaulay.
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