belay

[ bih-ley ]
See synonyms for belay on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),be·layed, be·lay·ing.
  1. Nautical. to fasten (a rope) by winding around a pin or short rod inserted in a holder so that both ends of the rod are clear.

  2. Mountain Climbing.

    • to secure (a person) by attaching to one end of a rope.

    • to secure (a rope) by attaching to a person or to an object offering stable support.

  1. (used chiefly in the imperative)

    • to cease (an action); stop.

    • to ignore (an announcement, order, etc.): Belay that, the meeting will be at 0900 instead of 0800.

verb (used without object),be·layed, be·lay·ing.
  1. to belay a rope: Belay on that cleat over there.

noun
  1. Mountain Climbing. a rock, bush, or other object sturdy enough for a running rope to be passed around it to secure a hold.

Origin of belay

1
before 900; Middle English beleggen,Old English belecgan.See be-, lay1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use belay in a sentence

  • He splashed his way up to the cabin bulkhead, where the halyards were belayed on cleats on either side, and let them run.

    The Rival Campers Afloat | Ruel Perley Smith
  • Ease off, or Ease away: To slacken out the fall of a tackle, sheet, or any rope that is belayed.

  • Mr Forbes, get the starboard fore-topmast staysail sheets aft and well belayed, if you please.

    The Cruise of the "Esmeralda" | Harry Collingwood

British Dictionary definitions for belay

belay

/ (bɪˈleɪ) /


verb-lays, -laying or -layed
  1. nautical to make fast (a line) by securing to a pin, cleat, or bitt

  2. (usually imperative) nautical to stop; cease

  1. (ˈbiːˌleɪ) mountaineering to secure (a climber) to a mountain by tying the rope off round a rock spike, piton, nut, etc

noun
  1. (ˈbiːˌleɪ) mountaineering the attachment (of a climber) to a mountain by tying the rope off round a rock spike, piton, nut, etc, to safeguard the party in the event of a fall: See also running belay

Origin of belay

1
Old English belecgan; related to Old High German bileggen, Dutch beleggen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012