belay

Meanings

Plural: belays

Noun

something to which a mountain climber's rope can be secured
The securing of a rope to a rock or other sturdy object.
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.

Verb

turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or him
fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat
To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground.
To lay aside; to stop; to cancel.
The general command to stop or cease.
To surround; to environ; to enclose.
To overlay; to adorn.
To besiege; invest; surround.
To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.
simple past of belie (“encompass”)

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan (“to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse”), From Proto-West Germanic *bilaggjan, equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen (“to cover, overlay, belay”), German belegen (“to cover, occupy, belay”), Swedish belägga (“to pave”).

Scrabble Score: 10

belay is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
belay is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
belay is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

belay is a valid Words With Friends word