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
grapple
with the house of Lancaster.
Shakespeare

Grap′ple

,
Noun.
[See Grapple,
Verb.
T.
, and cf. Crapple.]
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

Two marines practising grappling techniques during a United States Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

Alternative forms

  • graple (obsolete)

Verb

grapple ‎(third-person singular simple present grapples, present participle grappling, simple past and past participle grappled)

  1. (transitive) To seize something and hold it firmly.
  2. (transitive, figuratively) Normally used with with: to ponder and intensely evaluate a problem.
    to grapple with one's conscience‎
  3. (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.
  4. (intransitive) To use a grapple.
  5. (intransitive) To wrestle or tussle.

Translations

Etymology 2

A grappling hook, which is a type of grapple
A grapple, or grapnel anchor

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)

  1. A tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something.
    1. (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.
    2. (nautical) A grapnel ‎(“type of anchor”).
  2. A close hand-to-hand struggle.
  3. (uncountable) The act of grappling.
Translations

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 *ghreb(h)-, *ghrab(h)- ‎(“to take, seize, rake”). 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.

Pronunciation

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