Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Grapple
Grap′ple
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Grappled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Grappling
.] [F.
grappiller
, OF. graypil
the grapple of a ship, fr. graper
to pluck, prop., to seize, clutch; of German origin. See Grape
.] 1.
To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack at close quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist.
2.
To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.
The gallies were
grappled
to the Centurion. Hakluyt.
Grapple
them to thy soul with hoops of steel. Shakespeare
Grap′ple
,Verb.
I.
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.
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To
To
grapple
with the house of Lancaster. Shakespeare
Grap′ple
,Noun.
[See Grapple, , and cf. Crapple.]
Verb.
T.
1.
A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold.
Milton.
2.
(a)
An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a grab.
(b)
(Naut.)
A grappling iron.
The iron hooks and
grapples
keen. Spenser.
Grapple plant
(Bot.)
, a South African herb (
– Herpagophytum leptocarpum
) having the woody fruits armed with long hooked or barbed thorns by which they adhere to cattle, causing intense annoyance. Grapple shot
(Life-saving Service)
, a projectile, to which are attached hinged claws to catch in a ship's rigging or to hold in the ground; – called also
anchor shot
.Definition 2024
grapple
grapple
English
Alternative forms
- graple (obsolete)
Verb
grapple (third-person singular simple present grapples, present participle grappling, simple past and past participle grappled)
- (transitive) To seize something and hold it firmly.
- (transitive, figuratively) Normally used with with: to ponder and intensely evaluate a problem.
- to grapple with one's conscience
- (transitive) To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.
- Hakluyt
- The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
- Shakespeare
- Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
- Hakluyt
- (intransitive) To use a grapple.
- (intransitive) To wrestle or tussle.
Translations
to seize and hold firmly
to ponder and intensely evaluate a problem
to wrestle or struggle
Etymology 2
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 Old Frankish *krappō (“hook”), from Proto-Germanic *krappô, *krappą (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *grep- (“hook”), *gremb- (“crooked, uneven”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend, twist”). See further at grape.
Noun
grapple (countable and uncountable, plural grapples)
- A tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something.
- A close hand-to-hand struggle.
- (uncountable) The act of grappling.
Translations
tool with claws or hooks
a close hand-to-hand struggle