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Belay

//bɪˈleɪ// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    The securing of a rope to a rock or other sturdy object.
  2. 2
    something to which a mountain climber's rope can be secured wordnet
  3. 3
    The object to which a rope is secured.
  4. 4
    A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure their partner.

    "But instead of swapping over at the ice axe belay, you carry on in the lead, cutting or kicking steps until you are about twenty feet above."

Verb
  1. 1
    To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat. ambitransitive
  2. 2
    simple past of belie (“encompass”) form-of, past
  3. 3
    fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat wordnet
  4. 4
    To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground. transitive

    "He would need an experienced partner to belay him on the difficult climbs."

  5. 5
    turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or them wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    To lay aside; to stop; to cancel. transitive

    "Belay that order!"

  2. 7
    The general command to stop or cease. intransitive
  3. 8
    To surround; to environ; to enclose. obsolete, transitive
  4. 9
    To overlay; to adorn. obsolete, transitive

    "jacket […] belayd with silver lace"

  5. 10
    To besiege; invest; surround. obsolete, transitive
  6. 11
    To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct. obsolete, transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan (“to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse”), From Proto-West Germanic *bilaggjan, equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen (“to cover, overlay, belay”), German belegen (“to cover, occupy, belay”), Swedish belägga (“to pave”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan (“to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse”), From Proto-West Germanic *bilaggjan, equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen (“to cover, overlay, belay”), German belegen (“to cover, occupy, belay”), Swedish belägga (“to pave”).

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