noun
relay; relay system
Refers to a system of passing something along in stages, such as a relay of horses, messengers, or work shifts. Often used in historical or logistical contexts.
江戸時代には、宿場ごとに人や馬を継ぎ立てて手紙を運んだ。
In the Edo period, they relayed people and horses at each post station to carry letters.
リレー is a modern loanword for relay races or electrical relays, while 継ぎ立て is a native term for a relay system, often historical.
Compound of 継ぎ (continuation, from 継ぐ 'to succeed') and 立て (from 立てる 'to set up'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word refers to setting up a succession or relay.