belaying pin

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. a short, round bar of metal or wood, inserted in a fife rail or pin rail, to which a rope is belayed.

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belaying pin British  

noun

1. nautical a cylindrical, sometimes tapered pin, usually of metal or wood, that fits into a hole in a pin or fife rail: used for belaying

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Etymology

Origin of belaying pin

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

belaying pin

Though they looked healthy enough to chew a belaying pin, the question was whether they would later die of radiation disease.

From Time Magazine Archive

Skipper Mike Frenette put an end to the snapper's antics with a hit from the aluminum belaying pin that would have done Barry Bonds proud.

From Time Magazine Archive

And then, as the captain started to mount the stairs, he threw down a belaying pin.

From At the Fall of Port Arthur Or, A Young American in the Japanese Navy by Edward Stratemeyer

He lifted a belaying pin from the rail and drove out the bolt.

From The Ice Pilot by Henry Leverage

In a moment he had clambered overboard, letting himself down by means of a line secured to a belaying pin at the mainmast.

From Boy Scouts in the North Sea The Mystery of a Sub by G. Harvey (George Harvey) Ralphson