Where does “lai” come from?

Lai derives from Old French lai, from Latin laicus, from Ancient Greek λαός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "people" or "folk."

lai (English): A mostly North European medieval form of lyrical,...

Definitions

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	lai	—
2	Old French	lai	lai; ugly
3	Latin	lacus	a lake, pond, basin; reservoir; a tank, tub, vat,...
4	New Latin	lacrimalis	—
5	Latin	lācrima	—
6	Old Latin	dacrima	tear
7	Proto-Italic	*d(r)(k)akrunā	—
8	Proto-Indo-European	dáḱru-	tears; tear
9	Proto-Indo-European	dr̥ḱ-h₂eḱru-	eye bitter