Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to watch for, to survey.

1607		Middleton A Trick to Catch the Old One I ii: I have been laying all the town for thee.
1859, 1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1896		Ade Artie (1963) 87: I told her if she ever went through the park speedin’ like that she’d have all the sparrow cops layin’ for her.
1903		A.H. Lewis Boss 165: You stay an’ lay for him. When he shows up, bring him to me.
1916		J. Lait ‘Charlie the Wolf’ in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 28: ‘We want you,’ said Kelly. ‘Been layin’ for you for five days,’ said Kiernan.
1937		P. Cheyney Dames Don’t Care (1960) 60: He is lyin’ to pinch Henrietta just as soon as he can get his hooks on her.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 142: lay [...] to survey a prospective place to rob or burglarize.
1959		C. Himes Crazy Kill 115: Johnny’s laying in there in the dark.
1973		D. Goines Street Players 148: I ain’t got to lay, man.