v. Naut. Obs. [Either ME. belegge, obs. form of BELAY, or, what is not improbable, ad. Du. beleggen, in same sense. (It is also possible that it may have originated as a misprint or misreading of belaye. See also BELACE.)]
1678. Phillips, Belage in Navigation is to fasten any running Rope when it is haled, that it cannot run forth again. [So in ed. 1696: Belay in nautical sense not given in either; but ed. 1706 has Belay or Belage, explained as in 1678].
1692. in Capt. Smiths Seamans Gram., I. xvi. 75. To Belage, to make fast any running Rope.
1707. in Kersey.
1721. Bailey, Belage, Belay (Sea Term) [expl. as in Phillips].