belay

Meaning

Verb

1. To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
2. To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground.
3. To lay aside; to stop; to cancel.
4. The general command to stop or cease.
5. (obsolete) To surround; to environ; to enclose.
6. (obsolete) To overlay; to adorn.
7. (obsolete) To besiege; invest; surround.
8. (obsolete) To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.

Noun

1. The securing of a rope to a rock or other projection.
2. The object to which a rope is secured.
3. A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure their partner.

Concepts

belay

stop

hang on

attach

secure

stake

avast

arrest

balk

cease

cheese

detain

give over

halt

knock off

pause

quit

stall

stay

trig

waste

affix

band

bond

bracket

brooch

catch

clasp

fasten

fix

fixate

frame

frame up

frap

hitch

indent

indenture

infix

join

moor

mortgage

mount

peg

pin

post

reeve

rig

sign on

stick

stick on

strap

tack

toggle

belaying pin

dowel

nog

treenail

trenail

trunnel

rope up

anchor

bind

chain up

enchain

hog-tie

pinion

shackle

tie

tie down

tie up

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈleɪ/

Etymology

From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan (“to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse”), From Proto-West Germanic *bilaggjan, equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen (“to cover, overlay, belay”), German belegen (“to cover, occupy, belay”), Swedish belägga (“to pave”).