Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

tackle

/ˈtækəl/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tackle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The person who plays that position on a football team.
the right tackle is a straight A student
Gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails.
Gear used in fishing.

verb

Accept as a challenge.
I'll tackle this difficult task
Put a harness.
harness the horse
Seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball.

Origin

From Middle English takel (“gear, apparatus”), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel (“ship's rigging”), perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken (“to grasp, seize”). Akin to Danish takkel (“tackle”), Swedish tackel (“tackle”). More at take.

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

Back to today's word