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The term belay is often used to cancel an order in military settings. The definition indicates it just means to cancel. However, would asking a superior (in a civilian private sector employment situation) add an improper tone to the request?

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I do not think we can answer this question. Each person's situation with regard to their superiors is different. It depends entirely on how relaxed an environment you are in as to if you can tell you superior to do things. – Matt Эллен Mar 12 '12 at 13:20
I was actually requesting them not to do something I previously asked them to do, belaying my original request. The question was not about asking about word usage. Obviously asking my superior to do something depends on the organization and the request. – Justin Dearing Mar 12 '12 at 14:01
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No - you can't grammatically "belay a request to a superior". You can "pass a request [on] up to a superior", for example, but OP's proposed usage of belaying to another person isn't valid. – FumbleFingers Mar 12 '12 at 15:01

1 Answer

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Belay is commonly used in nautical settings (not military) to mean "stop." Any sailor might use it in this context; it is not limited to belaying orders.

Using it in a different setting might come across as endearing, pert, obnoxious, or charming, depending on your relationship with the superior with whom you are speaking, and the manner in which you use it.

However, the word belay in and of itself is not rude or offensive.

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You can belay, rappelling down the outside of the building with the request in hand, or you can use the stairs: both strike me as proper, but the former seems more daring. – fortunate1 Mar 12 '12 at 14:00
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I don't believe I've ever heard anyone use belay in that fashion in the U.S. I also don't think that, if I were to do so, anybody would understand what I meant. There are other meanings to belay, as pointed out, and which few know; but few know any of them. I suspect its unlikeliness would make most people think they'd heard relay instead, which could contribute to misunderstanding. Anything important enough to be belayed should be belayed with pipes and sideboys; actual commands have to be clear and precise. – John Lawler Mar 12 '12 at 15:10
@JohnLawler I've seen a similar usage to fortunate1's in the US: when a rock/etc climbers ascent/decent was controlled by someone above working the rope instead of the climber controlling his motion directly. – Dan Neely Mar 12 '12 at 15:55
@JohnLawler which usage have you not heard? – user14070 Mar 12 '12 at 19:06
The one that means to stop. – John Lawler Mar 12 '12 at 20:15

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