splay

 
Pronunciation: /spleɪ/

verb

[with object]
  • thrust or spread (things, especially limbs or fingers) out and apart: her hands were splayed across his broad shoulders he stood with his legs and arms splayed out
  • [no object] (especially of limbs or fingers) be thrust or spread out and apart: his legs splayed out in front of him
  • [no object] become wider or more separated: the river splayed out, deepening to become an estuary
  • (usually as adjective splayed) construct (a window, doorway, or other aperture) so that it diverges or is wider at one side of the wall than the other: the walls are pierced by splayed window openings

noun

  • 1a tapered widening of a road at an intersection to increase visibility.
  • 2a surface making an oblique angle with another, especially a splayed window or other aperture.
  • [mass noun] the degree of bevel or slant of a surface.

adjective

[usually in combination]
  • turned outward or widened: the girls were sitting splay-legged

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'unfold to view, display'): shortening of the verb display