grapple
/ˈɡɹæpəl/ verb, noun
Forms grapples grappling grappled graple
- verb (transitive) To seize something and hold it firmly.
- verb (intransitive) To wrestle or tussle.
- verb (figuratively, with with) To ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; to struggle to deal with. “to grapple with one's conscience”
- noun A close hand-to-hand struggle.
- noun The act of grappling. (uncountable)
- noun (nautical) A device consisting of iron claws, attached to the end of a rope, used for grasping and holding an enemy ship prior to boarding; a grappling iron.
- noun (nautical) A grapnel (“type of anchor”).
- verb (transitive) To fasten, as with a grapple; (by extension) to fix; to join indissolubly.
- verb (transitive, intransitive) To climb (whether by means of a grapple and rope, or by hand, etc).
- verb (intransitive) To use a grapple (for example to attempt to find, hook, and raise a net or cable).
- verb (transitive, intransitive) To hook and raise with a grapple.
- noun (marketing) A combination of grape and apple flavors.
Synonyms
grapnel grappler grappling hook grappling iron clamshell wrestle wrestling grappling hand-to-hand struggle cope get by make out make do contend deal manage grip
Etymology
From Middle English *grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”), from Old English *græpplian (“to seize”) (compare Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”)), from Proto-Germanic *graipilōną, *grabbalōną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), equivalent to grab + -le.
Cognate with Dutch grabbelen (“to grope, scramble, scrabble”), German grabbeln (“to rummage, grope about”) and grapsen, grapschen (“to seize, grasp, grabble”). Influenced in some senses by grapple (“tool with claws or hooks”, noun) (see below). See further at grasp.
From Middle English *grapple, *graple, from Old French grappil (“a ship's grapple”) (compare Old French grappin (“hook”)), from Old French grape, grappe, crape (“hook”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *krappō (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *grep- (“hook”), *gremb- (“crooked, uneven”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend, twist”). See further at grape. Influenced in some senses by grapple (“seize”, verb) (see above).
Blend of grape + apple.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack at close quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist.
- verb To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.
- verb To use a grapple; to contend in close fight; to attach one's self as if by a grapple, as in wrestling; to close; to seize one another. To grapple with, to enter into contest with, resolutely and courageously.
- noun A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold.
Etymology [F. grappiller, OF. graypil the grapple of a ship, fr. graper to pluck, prop., to seize, clutch; of German origin. See Grape.]
Etymology [See Grapple, v. t., and cf. Crapple.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “grapple”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details