What is "to pay off"

Pay \Pay\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paid; p. pr. & vb. n. Paying.] [OE. paien, F. payer, fr. L. pacare to pacify, appease, fr. pax, pacis, peace. See Peace.]

1. To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service rendered, property delivered, etc.; to discharge one's obligation to; to make due return to; to compensate; to remunerate; to recompense; to requite; as, to pay workmen or servants.

   May no penny ale them pay [i. e., satisfy].
   --P. Plowman.

   [She] pays me with disdain.
   --Dryden.

2. Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon.

   For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you.
   --B. Jonson.

3. To discharge, as a debt, demand, or obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required; to deliver the amount or value of to the person to whom it is owing; to discharge a debt by delivering (money owed). ``Pay me that thou owest.''
   --Matt. xviii. 28.

   Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
   --Matt. xviii. 26.

   If they pay this tax, they starve.
   --Tennyson.

4. To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised.

   This day have I paid my vows.
   --Prov. vii. 14.

5. To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit. Not paying me a welcome. --Shak. To pay off.

   1. To make compensation to and discharge; as, to pay off the crew of a ship.

   2. To allow (a thread, cord, etc.) to run off; to unwind.

      To pay one's duty, to render homage, as to a sovereign or other superior.

      To pay out (Naut.), to pass out; hence, to slacken; to allow to run out; as, to pay out more cable. See under Cable.

      To pay the piper, to bear the cost, expense, or trouble.

Pay \Pay\ (p[=a]), v. i. To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again. --Ps. xxxvii. 2

2. Hence, to make or secure suitable return for expense or trouble; to be remunerative or profitable; to be worth the effort or pains required; as, it will pay to ride; it will pay to wait; politeness always pays. To pay for.

   1. To make amends for; to atone for; as, men often pay for their mistakes with loss of property or reputation, sometimes with life.

   2. To give an equivalent for; to bear the expense of; to be mulcted on account of.

      'T was I paid for your sleeps; I watched your wakings.
      --Beau. & Fl.

      To pay off. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) To fall to leeward, as the head of a vessel under sail.

      To pay on. [Etymol. uncertain.] To beat with vigor; to redouble blows. [Colloq.]

      To pay round [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) To turn the ship's head.