In climbing or sailing, to secure a rope by winding it around a post or cleat; also means to stop or cease (archaic).
From 'belay,' originally a nautical term from Dutch 'beleggen' (to cover or secure), which came into English maritime vocabulary. The '-ed' marks past tense.
Climbers and sailors still use 'belay' constantly—'belay that order!' or securing a rope around a belay point—preserving a word with genuine Dutch-English maritime heritage from the age of sail.
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