belay

American  

[bih-ley] / bɪˈleɪ /

verb (used with object)

belays, present (3rd person singular) belayed, past participle, past belaying present participle

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.

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

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

3. (used chiefly in the imperative)

   1. to cease (an action); stop.

   2. to ignore (an announcement, order, etc.).

      Belay that, the meeting will be at 0900 instead of 0800.

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verb (used without object)

belays, present (3rd person singular) belayed, past participle, past belaying present participle

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.

belay British  

/ bɪˈleɪ /

verb

1. nautical to make fast (a line) by securing to a pin, cleat, or bitt

2. (usually imperative) nautical to stop; cease

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

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noun

1. 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

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have belayed
  perfect
• has belayed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am belaying
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been belaying
  perfect progressive
• are belaying
  progressive
• has been belaying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• belaying
  participle
• is belaying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• belays
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had belayed
  perfect
• belayed
  participle
• was belaying
  progressive singular
• belayed
  simple
• had been belaying
  perfect progressive
• were belaying
  progressive plural

Future

• will belay
  simple
• will have belayed
  perfect
• will be belaying
  progressive
• will have been belaying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of belay

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

Explanation

To belay is to secure or hold the end of a climbing rope so that the climber won't fall far if she slips. Your friend might climb a rock wall first, while you belay for her. You can belay on your own by fixing the end of your rope, but it's more common — and safer — to have a partner belay for you while you climb. To do this, she exerts friction on the rope when you don't move, and releases more rope when you need it to climb higher. The word was first used by sailors in the 16th century, in a similar way — to secure a marine rope by coiling it around a pin.