belay

[ bih-ley ]

verb (used with object)

, be·layed, be·lay·ing.

1. Nautical. to fasten (a rope) by winding around a pin or short rod inserted in a holder so that both ends of the rod are clear.
2. Mountain Climbing.
   1. to secure (a person) by attaching to one end of a rope.
   2. to secure (a rope) by attaching to a person or to an object offering stable support.
3. (used chiefly in the imperative)
   1. to cease (an action); stop.
   2. to ignore (an announcement, order, etc.):

      Belay that, the meeting will be at 0900 instead of 0800.

verb (used without object)

, be·layed, be·lay·ing.

1. to belay a rope:

   Belay on that cleat over there.

noun

1. Mountain Climbing. a rock, bush, or other object sturdy enough for a running rope to be passed around it to secure a hold.

belay

/ bɪˈleɪ /

verb

1. nautical to make fast (a line) by securing to a pin, cleat, or bitt
2. usually imperative nautical to stop; cease
3. ˈbiːˌleɪ mountaineering to secure (a climber) to a mountain by tying the rope off round a rock spike, piton, nut, etc

noun

1. ˈbiːˌleɪ mountaineering the attachment (of a climber) to a mountain by tying the rope off round a rock spike, piton, nut, etc, to safeguard the party in the event of a fall See also running belay

Word History and Origins

Origin of belay¹

before 900; Middle English beleggen, Old English belecgan. See be-, lay ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of belay¹

Old English belecgan ; related to Old High German bileggen , Dutch beleggen

Example Sentences

Like rock climbing, the sport entails a rope system — known as belaying — but differs in substantive ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Carrasco called down to make sure the other guide had him “on belay,” as climbers say, and someone shouted back, “No.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I think there’s something about climbing where you’re really trusting your life to your belay partner, your climbing partner, and that lends itself to relationships in a lot of ways,” she said.

From Seattle Times

But it adds that it is a "mess of old, rotting gear that has been left behind at each belay and accumulated over decades of use".

From BBC

The former will have certified rock-climbing guides belaying climbers and teaching climbing skills throughout the day at the rock wall.

From Seattle Times