- ray (n.1)
- "beam of light," c.1300, from Old French rai (nominative rais) "ray, spoke," from Latin radius "ray, spoke, staff, rod" (see radius). Not common before 17c.; of the sun, usually in reference to heat (beam being preferred for light). Science fiction ray-gun is first recorded 1931 (but cf. Martian Heat ray weapon in H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds," 1898).
- ray (n.2)
- "type of fish related to sharks," early 14c., from French raie (13c.), from Latin raia, of unknown origin.