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belayed; belaying
Definition of belay
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : to secure (a rope or cable) by turns around a cleat (see cleat entry 1 sense 1b), pin, or bitt
b : to make fast : to fasten down
belaying ammunition on deck
3a : to secure (a person) at the end of a rope
belay a climber … belaying each other over the difficult places. — National Geographic
b : to secure (a rope) to a person or object
1 : to be made fast
knowing where each rope belays on deck
3 : to make a line (see line entry 1 sense 1) fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt
belay
nounDefinition of belay (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : the securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point (as during mountain climbing)
Belays are more difficult to secure on ice and snow than on rock …— Kenneth A. Henderson also : a method of so securing a person or rope
2 : something (such as a projection of rock) to which a person or rope is anchored
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Time Traveler for belay
The first known use of belay was circa 1550
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