late 14c., "one who or that lays" (especially stones, "a mason"), agent noun from lay, v.. Passive sense of "that which is laid over a surface" first recorded 1610s, but because earliest English use was in cookery, this is perhaps from French liue "binding," used of a thickened sauce. Layer cake attested from 1881.

1832, from layer, n.. Related: Layered; layering.