I. bə̇ˈlā, bē- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English beleggen, from Old English belecgan, from be- + lecgan to lay — more at lay
transitive verb
1. obsolete : ornament , adorn
2. obsolete
a. : besiege
b. : waylay
c. : to occupy (a place) for the purpose of intercepting or guarding
3.
a. : to secure (as a rope or cable) by one or more figure-eight turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt
b. : to make fast : fasten down
belaying ammunition on deck
4. nautical : stop : hold back on
belay that last order
: cancel , disregard
5.
a. : to secure (a person) at the end of a rope
our guides belayed us and accepted belays from us — Appalachia
belaying each other over the difficult places — National Geographic
b. : to secure (a rope) to a person or to a firm object
intransitive verb
1. chiefly nautical : to be made fast
knowing where each rope belays on deck
2. nautical : stop , quit — used in the imperative
belay there
3. : to make fast by belaying
he kept going when he ought to have belayed
II. noun
( -s )
1. : the obtaining of a hold (as for a rope) during mountain climbing
belays are more difficult to secure on ice and snow than on rock — K.A.Henderson
2. : a method of obtaining a hold or anchor (as for a rope) during mountain climbing
3. : something to which a mountain climber's rope is anchored (as a projection of rock or an embedded pick)