belay

English

/ˈbiːleɪ/, /bɪˈleɪ/, /ˈbiːleɪ/

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

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English beleggen inherited from Old English beleċġan (cover, invest, surround, attribute to, afflict, accuse, charge with) prefix from English lay (meadow).

Origin

English

lay

Gloss

meadow

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms