grapple

grap·ple

Use grapple in a sentence

verb

Grapple is defined as to struggle with something or someone.

An example of grapple is when two kids get into a fight over a ball, with each struggling to get control.
An example of grapple is when you are struggling with making a difficult decision.

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"grapple." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/grapple>.

APA Style

grapple. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/grapple

grapple

grapnel
a device consisting of two or more hinged, movable iron prongs for grasping and moving heavy objects
a coming to grips; hand-to-hand fight

Origin of grapple

Old French grapil: see grapnel

transitive verb

grap′pled, grap′pling

to grip and hold; seize

to use a grapnel
to struggle in hand-to-hand combat; wrestle
to struggle or try to cope (with): to grapple with a problem

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MLA Style

"grapple." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/grapple>.

APA Style

grapple. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/grapple

grapple

noun

a. An iron shaft with claws at one end, usually thrown by a rope and used for grasping and holding, especially one for drawing and holding an enemy ship alongside. Also called grapnel . Also called grappling . Also called grappling hook . Also called grappling iron .
b. See grapnel .
Any of various grasping devices having hinged tines or jaws that close around an object or load, used especially in lifting or dragging heavy items.
The act of grappling.
a. A struggle or contest in which the participants attempt to wrestle with each other by clutching or gripping.
b. A struggle for superiority or dominance.

verb

grap·pled, grap·pling, grap·ples

verb

transitive

To seize and hold with a grapple: grappled the prow of the ship.
To seize firmly with the hands: “Jules … grappled the backpack chained over the back of Izzy's bike and began scrabbling through it” ( Bella Bathurst )

verb

intransitive

To hold onto something with a grapple: “The 150-odd ships closed and grappled, initiating the most important naval battle of the Hundred Years' War” ( Clifford J. Rogers )
To use a grapple or similar device, as for dragging.
a. To wrestle with an opponent by clutching or gripping.
b. To struggle or work hard to deal with something: grappled with their consciences; grapple with the political realities of our time.

Origin of grapple

Middle English grapel from Old French grapil diminutive of grape hook ; see grape .

Related Forms:

grap′pler
noun

grapple

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"grapple." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/grapple>.

APA Style

grapple. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/grapple

Verb

(third-person singular simple present grapples, present participle grappling, simple past and past participle grappled)

To seize something and hold it firmly.
(figuratively) to ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; normally used with "with".
(intransitive) To use a grapple.
(intransitive) To wrestle or tussle.
To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.

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 *ghreb(h)-, *ghrab(h)- (“to take, seize, rake”). Cognate with Dutch grabbelen (“to grope, scramble, scrabble”), German grabbeln (“to rummage, grope about”), German grapsen, grapschen (“to seize, grasp, grabble”). Influenced in some senses by grapple (“hook”, noun) (see below). More at grasp.

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural grapples)

(nautical) 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 grapnel or grappling iron.
(uncountable) The act of grappling.
A close hand-to-hand struggle.

Origin

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 Old Frankish *krappō (“hook”), from Proto-Germanic *krappô, *krappą (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *grep- (“hook”), *gremb- (“crooked, uneven”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend, twist”). More at grape.