belay v also b'lay. Cp SMYTH ~ stop' (1876) for sense 2.
   1 To row and steer with an oar from the stern of a large fishing boat, counteracting the force of the sail and other complementary oars; to scull a small boat.
   [1663] 1963 YONGE 57 The boat is 3 or 4 tons ... but these three men will row these great boats a long way. The boat's master he rows at the stem, against the other two, who row one side; he belays against them , and so not only rows, but steers the boat. [1766] 1971 BANKS 133 They are Calld here Shallops Rigged with a main mast & foremast & Lugsail & furnishd also with 4 oars 3 of which row on one side & the other which is twice as long as any of the rest Belays as they Call it the other three by being rowed sideways over the stern by a man who stands up for that Purpose with his face towards the Rowers Counteracting them & Steering at the same time as he gives way to the boat. [(1840) 1954 INNIS 381 There was a peculiarity noticed in the French boats at Pacquet Harbour which I never observed elsewhere, namely, both oars being pulled on the larboard side, and no oar at all on the starboard; but the third person used an oar fitted into a crutch placed broad on the starboard quarter, with which he pulled the stern round against the power of the two larboard oars, and thus steers her course.] 1883 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 5-6 One very curious custom is that all the [French fisher-] men row on one side of the boat, except one who stands aft and with a long wide bladed sweep keeps blaying against the rest. P 127-77 ~ to force an oar through the water, as a sculling oar or paddle.
   2 To turn a small boat by backing water with one oar and pulling with the other; SLEW v 1.
   C 64-5 To [b'lay] (turn with an oar) a boat around against the sun will bring bad luck. P 61-66 [B'lay] the punt: to turn the punt around with an oar. Q 71-6 B'lay her around, old man! Christ, I could b'lay Aunt Fanny's arse quicker than that! C 73-128 You push the oar straight down and [push] it the opposite way than before you stopped. This method is used if you want to turn the boat: you would 'b'lay' with one oar and turn with the other oar.

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