[be.lay] vb [ME beleggen to beset, fr. OE belecgan, fr. be- + lecgan to lay] vt (1548) 1 a: to secure (as a rope) by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt b: to make fast
2: stop 3 a: to secure (a person) at the end of a rope b: to secure (a rope) to a person or object ~ vi 1: to be made fast
2: stop, quit--used in the imperative "~ there"
3: to make a line fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt
[2]belay n (1908) 1: the securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point (as during mountain climbing); also: a method of so securing a person or rope
2: something (as a projection of rock) to which a person or rope is anchored