belay

Etymology 1

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”).

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive, nautical) To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
2. (transitive, climbing) To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground.
   He would need an experienced partner to belay him on the difficult climbs.
3. (transitive) To lay aside; stop; cancel.
   I could only hope the remaining piton would belay his fall.
   Belay that order!
4. (intransitive, nautical) The general command to stop or cease.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To surround; environ; enclose.
6. (transitive, obsolete) To overlay; adorn.
7. (transitive, obsolete) To besiege; invest; surround.
8. (transitive, obsolete) To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.

noun

1. (climbing) The securing of a rope to a rock or other projection.
2. (climbing) The object to which a rope is secured.
3. (climbing) A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure their partner.
   But instead of swapping over at the ice axe belay, you carry on in the lead, cutting or kicking steps until you are about twenty feet above. 1967, Anthony Greenbank, Instructions in Mountaineering, page 84

Etymology 2

verb

1. simple past of belie (“encompass”)