Lay

1. To come and go, used in giving orders to the crew, e.g. "lay forward" or "lay aloft", respectively indicating that the crew should move to the forward part of the ship or take up positions aloft.
2. To direct the course of a vessel.
3. (v) To twist the strands of a rope together. (n) The direction of twist in cordage made from twisted strands
4. To travel in a direction which will reach or pass just upwind of a mark, buoy, or harbor, e.g. "We will lay the mark".