grapple

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: grap=ple

CIDE DICTIONARY

grapple, v. t. [F. grappiller, OF. graypil the grapple of a ship, fr. graper to pluck, prop., to seize, clutch; of German origin. See Grape.].

•  To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack at close quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist.  [1913 Webster]
•  To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly.  [1913 Webster]

  "The gallies were grappled to the Centurion."  [1913 Webster]

  "Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel."  [1913 Webster]

grapple, v. i. 

 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.  [1913 Webster]
"And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster."  [1913 Webster]

To grapple with, to enter into contest with, resolutely and courageously.

grapple, n. [See Grapple, v. t., and cf. Crapple.].

•  A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a grab.  [1913 Webster]

  "The iron hooks and grapples keen."  [1913 Webster]

Grapple plant (Bot.), 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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

grapple, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. (often foll. by with) fight at close quarters or in close combat.
2 intr. (foll. by with) try to manage or overcome a difficult problem etc.
3 tr. a grip with the hands; come to close quarters with. b seize with or as with a grapnel; grasp.
--n.
1 a a hold or grip in or as in wrestling. b a contest at close quarters.
2 a clutching-instrument; a grapnel.

Idiom

grappling-iron (or -hook) = GRAPNEL.

Derivative

grappler n.

Etymology

OF grapil (n.) f. Prov., dimin. of grapa hook (as GRAPNEL)

THESAURUS

grapple

abduct, adhere to, affix, anchor, annex, attach, battle, bear hug, belay, bite, box, brawl, broil, carry off, catch, cement, cinch, clamp, clash, clasp, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, clinging, clip, close, clutch, collide, combat, come to blows, contend, contend with, contest, cope with, cramp, cut and thrust, deal with, death grip, duel, embrace, engraft, exchange blows, face, fasten, fence, feud, fight, fight a duel, firm hold, fix, foothold, footing, freeze to, give and take, give satisfaction, grab, graft, grapple with, grasp, grip, gripe, hang on, hang on to, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hug, iron grip, jostle, joust, keep hold of, kidnap, knit, make fast, mix it up, moor, nab, nail, never let go, nip, purchase, put to, quarrel, rassle, riot, run a tilt, scramble, screw up, scuffle, secure, seize, seizure, set, set to, shanghai, skirmish, snatch, spar, stick to, strive, struggle, struggle with, tackle, take, take on, tenure, throttle, thrust and parry, tight grip, tighten, tilt, toehold, tourney, trice up, trim, tussle, wage war, war, wrestle

ROGET THESAURUS

grapple

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Taking

VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.