Grapple
Grapple , transitive verb
[French grappiller, Old French graypil the grapple of a ship, from 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.
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
Grapple , intransitive verb
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.
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster.
Collocations (1)
To grapple with , to enter into contest with, resolutely and courageously.
Grapple , noun
[See Grapple, transitive verb, and compare Crapple.]
1.
A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold. — Milton
2.
(a) (Nautical) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a grab.
(b)
(Nautical) A grappling iron.
The iron hooks and grapples keen.
Collocations (2)
Grapple plant (Botany) , 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.