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Added 9 October 2026

grapple

/ˈɡɹæpəl/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about grapple at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To seize something and hold it firmly.
To wrestle or tussle.
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.
The act of grappling.

noun

A tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something. 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. A grapnel (“type of anchor”).
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.
A grapnel (“type of anchor”).

verb

To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.
To climb (whether by means of a grapple and rope, or by hand, etc).
To use a grapple (for example to attempt to find, hook, and raise a net or cable).

Origin

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 Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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