Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A close hand-to-hand struggle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The act of grappling. (uncountable)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something.
A grapnel (“type of anchor”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A combination of grape and apple flavors.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: business, marketing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To seize something and hold it firmly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To wrestle or tussle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; to struggle to deal with.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To fasten, as with a grapple; (by extension) to fix; to join indissolubly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To climb (whether by means of a grapple and rope, or by hand, etc).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To use a grapple (for example to attempt to find, hook, and raise a net or cable).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To hook and raise with a grapple.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: wrestle, wrestling, grappling, hand-to-hand struggle
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: struggle
noun
a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: clamshell
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dredging bucket
noun
a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: grapnel, grappler, grappling hook, grappling iron
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: tool
Narrower terms: crampon, crampoon
verb
to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: grip
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: seize, prehend, clutch
verb
come to terms with
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, deal, manage
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: act, move
Narrower terms: improvise, extemporize, fend, hack, cut, scrape along, scrape by, scratch along, squeak by, squeeze by, rub along, meet, match, cope with
History
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.
Across languages
109 source translations are retained for this English entry.
