Phrase guide

grappling iron

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: grăpʹ(ə-)lĭng ī'ərn
  • General-American: /ˈɡɹæp(ə)lɪŋ ˌaɪɚn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A metal hook, attached to the end of a line, used to hold two ships together.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grapnel, grapple, grappler, grappling hook

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tool

Narrower terms: crampon, crampoon

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: entraushaka — metal hook used to hold two ships together
  • Galician: arpeo — metal hook used to hold two ships together
  • Icelandic: stafnljár — metal hook used to hold two ships together
  • Italian: raffio — metal hook used to hold two ships together
  • Latin: harpagō — metal hook used to hold two ships together
  • Swedish: änterhake — metal hook used to hold two ships together
  • Ottoman Turkish: قارموق (karmuk) — metal hook used to hold two ships together