Etymology Dictionary

BAIZE,  a coarse woollen stuff.  (F.,—L.)   An error for bayes, which is a plural form; viz. the pl. of the F. baye.—F. 'baye, a lie, fib,... a cozening trick, or tale; also, a berry; also, the cloth called bayes,' &c.; Cotgrave; cf. F. bai, bay-coloured.   β. That the -ze is no part of the original word, and that the word is closely connected with bay, i.e. bay-coloured, reddish brown, is clear by comparison.   Cf. Du. baai, baize; Swed. boi, bays, baize (Tauchnitz); Dan. bai, baize.   Also Span. bayo, bay, bayeta, baize; Ital. bajo, bay, chesnut-coloured; bajetta, baize.   See Bay (1).   ➩ Hécart, cited by Wedgwood, guessed it to be named from its being dyed with 'graines d'Avignon;' from F. baie, Lat. bacca, a berry.   But note the difference between Bay (1) and Bay (2).   Perhaps the Portuguese is the clearest; it has baio, bay-coloured, baeta, baize; but baga, a berry. [†]

ADDENDA

So also bays, i.e. baize, in Arnold's Chron. ed. 1811, p. 235 (about 1502).