transitive verb, intransitive verb belayed, belaying
- to make (a rope) secure by winding around a belaying pin, cleat, piton, etc.; hold fast
- Naut., Informal
- to hold; stop: belay there!
- to cancel: belay the last order
- to secure (a person, as a mountain climber, or thing) by a rope
Origin:
ME bileggen < OE belecgan, to make fast < be-, be- + lecgan, lay
noun
action, method, or place of securing a hold for a rope in mountain climbing