'laid' (the past/past-participle form of 'lay') originates from Old English, specifically the verb 'lecgan' (to lay/put), which comes from Proto-Germanic '*lagjaną' meaning 'to put, to lay'.

'lecgan' (Old English) developed into Middle English forms such as 'layen' / 'leiden', with past forms like 'laid' emerging in Middle English; these forms eventually became the modern English verbs 'lay' (base) and 'laid' (past/p.p.).

Initially it meant 'to put or place something'; this core meaning has broadly remained the same into modern usage, though derived uses (e.g., figurative or phrasal senses) have expanded.