belay
verb (used with object)
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.
were belaying
-
past progressiveof belay.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I asked, as we came up into the wind, and the men were belaying after close hauling for the beat; "are they hiding from us, or is she deserted?"
From The Iron Pirate A Plain Tale of Strange Happenings on the Sea by Sir Max Pemberton
