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Webster 1913 Edition

Belay

Be-lay′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Belaid
,
Belayed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Belaying
.]
[For senses 1 & 2, D.
beleggen
to cover, belay; akin to E. pref.
be-
, and
lay
to place: for sense 3, OE.
beleggen
, AS.
belecgan
. See pref.
Be-
, and
Lay
to place.]
1.
To lay on or cover; to adorn.
[Obs.]
Jacket . . .
belayed
with silver lace.
Spenser.
2.
(Naut.)
To make fast, as a rope, by taking several turns with it round a pin, cleat, or kevel.
Totten.
3.
To lie in wait for with a view to assault. Hence: to block up or obstruct.
[Obs.]
Dryden.
Belay thee!
Stop.

Webster 1828 Edition

Belay

BELA'Y

,
Verb.
T.
[This word is composed of be and lay, to lay to, lay by, or close. See Beleaguer.]
1.
To block up, or obstruct.
2.
To place in ambush.
3.
To adorn, surround, or cover.
4.
In seamanship, to fasten, or make fast, by winding a rope round a cleat, kevil, or belaying-pin. It is chiefly applied to the running rigging.

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