belay
belay Lexical Profile
belay Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The act or technique of securing a climbing rope, or the anchor point, device, or person securing the rope to protect a climber from falling.
"She set up a solid belay on the rocky ledge before signaling for her partner to begin ascending."
• verb
To secure a rope by winding it around a cleat, pin, or rock, or to control a safety rope for a climber to prevent a fall (in mountaineering and sailing).
"The experienced instructor showed the beginners how to belay a partner safely on the climbing wall."
To stop, cancel, or disregard an action or command (used chiefly in the imperative in nautical contexts).
"The captain told the crew to belay the last order after spotting a sudden change in the wind."
• Rhymes for belay
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'belecgan', meaning 'to lay around, surround, or besiege' (from 'be-' + 'lecgan' meaning 'to lay'), later reinforced in the 16th century by Dutch 'beleggen' in its nautical sense of securing a rope around a cleat or pin.