'layover' originates from the combination of 'lay' and 'over', where 'lay' meant 'to place' and 'over' indicated 'above or beyond'.

'layover' evolved from the concept of 'laying over' or 'stopping over' during a journey.

Initially, it meant 'a place to rest or stop', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a short stay between parts of a journey'.