unlay

American  

[uhn-ley] / ʌnˈleɪ /

verb (used with object)

unlaid, unlaying

1. to separate (a strand) from a rope.

2. to untwist (a rope) in order to separate its strands.

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unlay British  

/ ʌnˈleɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to untwist (a rope or cable) to separate its strands

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Etymology

Origin of unlay

First recorded in 1720–30; un- ² + lay ¹

Example Sentences

They're not suddenly going to press the rewind button and totally unlay you off.

From Time Magazine Archive

With steel wire, always before working it, put a stop on at the place to which you intend to unlay, and also put a good whipping of twine at the end of each strand.

From Knots, Bends, Splices With tables of strengths of ropes, etc. and wire rigging by Jutsum, J. Netherclift

To make you a Flemish eye," Captain Falk continued in cold sarcasm, "you unlay the end of the rope and open up the yarns.

From The Mutineers by Hawes, Charles Boardman

For some time our main-mast stood without larboard shrouds, till we could unlay our best cable to make more, having knotted and spliced the old shrouds till our labour was in vain.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 11 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert

To Form a Wall Knot.—First unlay the rope so that the strands appear as in Fig.

From Knots, Bends, Splices With tables of strengths of ropes, etc. and wire rigging by Jutsum, J. Netherclift