Dictionary

belock en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English belouken, bilouken, from Old English belūcan (“to lock up, bring to an end”), from Proto-West Germanic *bilūkan (“to lock up”), equivalent to be- + lock. Cognate with Middle Low German belûken (“to close, secure”), Middle High German belūchen, belouchen (“to enclose, shut in”), obsolete German belochen (“lock up, lock in, include”).

Meanings

1. (archaic, transitive) To lock up or lock in place; hold tight; fasten.
   • After this manner he reached an eminence called the Allanowr in the vicinity of Strone, and here he observed two figures, reclining in listless langour on the moss; on advancing a little farther he recognised the features of his chieftain's son, his hands belocked in those of a female who was soothing him "as his drooped head sank gradually low!" 1843, James Grassie, Legends of the highlands of Scotland, page 50:
   • The brawny mariner belocks the line / Within his horny palm, and to the rude / Timeing of a tuneless lay, the frolic sail / Quickly upclews, and wraps it to the yard. 1814, H. Finn, “The Cathedral”, in The Lady's Monthly Museum:
   • This is the hand, which, with a vow'd contract, was fast belocked in thine. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

Forms

Synonyms

grip · clasp (hold tight) · grasp