Definition of belay Belay

be•lay

We found 20 definitions of belay from 6 different sources.

What does belay mean?

Noun Plural: belays
belay - something to which a mountain climber's rope can be secured
		outcrop, outcropping, rock outcrop the part of a rock formation that appears above the surface of the surrounding land
Verb belays, belaying, belaid
belay - fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat
		fasten, secure, fix attach to; "They fastened various nicknames to each other"
belay - turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or him
		fasten, secure, fix attach to; "They fastened various nicknames to each other"

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belay (Noun)
The securing of a rope to a rock or other projection.
belay (Noun)
The object to which a rope is secured.
belay (Noun)
A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure his/or her partner.
belay (Verb)
To surround; environ; inclose.
belay (Verb)
To overlay; adorn.
belay (Verb)
To besiege; invest; surround.
belay (Verb)
To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.
belay (Verb)
To make a rope fast by turning it round a fastening point such as a cleat or piton.
belay (Verb)
To secure a person to a rope or a rope to a person.
belay (Verb)
To lay aside; stop; cancel.
belay (Verb)
To make a line fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt.

belay (v. t.)
To lay on or cover; to adorn.
belay (v. t.)
To make fast, as a rope, by taking several turns with it round a pin, cleat, or kevel.
belay (v. t.)
To lie in wait for with a view to assault. Hence: to block up or obstruct.

belay
be-lā′, v.t. (naut.) to fasten a running rope by coiling it round a cleat or Belay′ing-pin: to make fast: (Spens.) to lay ornament round anything.—Belay there (naut. slang), hold! that is enough. [A.S. belecgan; Ger. belegen, Dut. beleggen. See Lay.]

belay
To fasten a rope when it has been sufficiently hauled upon, by twining it several times round a cleat, belaying pin, or kevel, without hitching or seizing; this is chiefly applied to the running rigging, which needs to be so secured that it may be quickly let go in case of a squall or change of wind; there being several other expressions used for securing large ropes, as bitting, making fast, stoppering, &c.--Belay there, stop! that is enough!--Belay that yarn, we have had enough of it. Stand fast, secure all, when a hawser has been sufficiently hauled. When the top-sails, or other sails have been hoisted taut up, or "belay the main-tack," &c.

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belay in sign language