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Nautical. to fasten (a rope) by winding around a pin or short rod inserted in a holder so that both ends of the rod are clear.
Mountain Climbing.

to secure (a person) by attaching to one end of a rope.
to secure (a rope) by attaching to a person or to an object offering stable support.

to cease (an action); stop.
to ignore (an announcement, order, etc.):
Belay that, the meeting will be at 0900 instead of 0800.

to belay a rope:
Belay on that cleat over there.
Mountain Climbing. a rock, bush, or other object sturdy enough for a running rope to be passed around it to secure a hold.
Historical Examples

When they had hoisted the unconscious Tom to the gaff, Swarth ordered: “belay, coil up the fall, and go forrard.”
“Where Angels Fear to Tread” and Other Stories of the Sea Morgan Robertson

“belay that,” said Captain Miles, rousing up now and rubbing his eyes.
The White Squall John Conroy Hutcheson

belay the starboard ram there, you salamander, and take a reef in the grating.
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 1 Robert H. Newell

There now, old man, just belay all that, and let me finish my snooze.
Salt Water W. H. G. Kingston

A ring-bolt with two or more forelock-holes in it, occasionally to belay or make fast towards the middle.
The Sailor’s Word-Book William Henry Smyth

None of the four that remained could do more than haul aft and belay a sheet.
The Celebrity, Complete Winston Churchill

“After that round turn, you may belay,” cried young Tom, laughing.
Jacob Faithful Captain Frederick Marryat

belay the binnacle and part the ship’s periwig abaft the main-mast!
Lochinvar S. R. Crockett

Well there with the throat-halliards; well with the peak; belay!
The Pirate Slaver Harry Collingwood

The Captain liked Bob because he was not “given to clatter,” and “knew how to belay his jaw.”
Captain January Laura E. Richards

verb -lays, -laying, -layed
(nautical) to make fast (a line) by securing to a pin, cleat, or bitt
(usually imperative) (nautical) to stop; cease
(mountaineering) (ˈbiːˌleɪ). to secure (a climber) to a mountain by tying the rope off round a rock spike, piton, nut, etc
noun
(mountaineering) (ˈbiːˌleɪ). the attachment (of a climber) to a mountain by tying the rope off round a rock spike, piton, nut, etc, to safeguard the party in the event of a fall See also running belay
v.

from Old English bilecgan, which, among other senses, meant “to lay a thing about” (with other objects), from be- + lecgan “to lay” (see lay (v.)). The only surviving sense is the nautical one of “coil a running rope round a cleat or pin to secure it” (also transferred to mountain-climbing), first attested 1540s; but this is possibly a cognate word, from Dutch beleggen.