belay

Meanings

Verb

• To surround; environ; enclose.
• To overlay; adorn.
• To besiege; invest; surround.
• To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.
• To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat or piton.
• To secure (a person) to a rope or (a rope) to a person.
• To lay aside; stop; cancel.
• Past of belie

Noun

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

Origin

• From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan, equivalent to be- + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen, German belegen, Swedish belägga.