English Meaning & Definitions
To slacken or release a rope, cable, or chain in a controlled manner, especially to allow it to run out from a coil or drum.
- “The captain ordered the crew to pay away the anchor chain as the ship approached the mooring site.”
- “You must pay away the line slowly to ensure the sail does not catch too much wind at once.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “pays away”.
Derived from the nautical verb 'to pay' (from Old French 'paier', meaning to appease or satisfy, and later specifically to coat a ship's seams with pitch) combined with the sense of 'paying out' or slackening a rope or cable. In maritime usage, 'paying away' refers to the controlled release of a line or anchor chain.
Think of a sailor 'paying' (releasing) a rope 'away' from the ship to let the anchor drop.
Frequently Asked Questions About “pays away”
1. What is the meaning of “pays away” in English?
In English, pays away (verb) is defined as: “To slacken or release a rope, cable, or chain in a controlled manner, especially to allow it to run out from a coil or drum.”.
2. How do you use “pays away” in a sentence?
“The captain ordered the crew to pay away the anchor chain as the ship approached the mooring site.”
3. What are English synonyms of “pays away”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “pays away”?
Derived from the nautical verb 'to pay' (from Old French 'paier', meaning to appease or satisfy, and later specifically to coat a ship's seams with pitch) combined with the sense of 'paying out' or slackening a rope or cable. In maritime usage, 'paying away' refers to the controlled release of a line or anchor chain.
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