Belay

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪ

Origin

From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English belecgan ("to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse"), equivalent to - + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen ("to cover, overlay, belay"), German belegen ("to cover, occupy, belay"), Swedish belägga ("to pave").

Full definition of belay

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To surround; environ; inclose.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To overlay; adorn.
• Spenserjacket ... belayed with silver lace
3. (transitive, obsolete) To besiege; invest; surround.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.
5. (transitive) To make (a rope) fast by turning it round a fastening point such as a cleat or piton.
6. (transitive) To secure (a person) to a rope or (a rope) to a person.He would need an experienced partner to belay him on the difficult climbs.
7. (transitive) To lay aside; stop; cancel.I could only hope the remaining piton would belay his fall.Belay that order!
8. (intransitive, nautical) The general command to stop or cease.
9. (intransitive, nautical) To make a line fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt.

Noun

1. (climbing) The securing of a rope to a rock or other projection.
2. (climbing) The object to which a rope is secured.
3. (climbing) A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure his/or her partner.