tackle

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: tack=le

CIDE DICTIONARY

tackle, n. [OE. takel, akin to LG. & D. takel, Dan. takkel, Sw. tackel; perhaps akin to E. taw, v. t., or to take.].

•  Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the rope and attachments, as distinct from the block, in which case the full appratus is referred to as a block and tackle.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any instruments of action; an apparatus by which an object is moved or operated; gear; as, fishing tackle, hunting tackle; formerly, specifically, weapons.  Hudibras.  [1913 Webster]

  " In Chaucer, it denotes usually an arrow or arrows."  [1913 Webster]
•  The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any purchase where more than one block is used.  [1913 Webster]

Fall and tackle. See the Note under Pulley. -- Fishing tackle. See under Fishing, a. -- Ground tackle (Naut.), anchors, cables, etc. -- Gun tackle, the apparatus or appliances for hauling cannon in or out. -- Tackle fall, the rope, or rather the end of the rope, of a tackle, to which the power is applied. -- Tack tackle (Naut.), a small tackle to pull down the tacks of the principal sails. -- Tackle board, Tackle post (Ropemaking), a board, frame, or post, at the end of a ropewalk, for supporting the spindels, or whirls, for twisting the yarns.

tackle, n. 

•  An act of tackling{4}; as, brought down by a tackle by a lineman.  [PJC]
•  One of two linemen on a football team, occupying a position between the guard and an end; also, the position played by such a tackle.  [PJC]

tackle, v. t. [Cf. LG. takeln to equip. See Tackle, n.].

•  To supply with tackle.  Beau. & Fl.  [1913 Webster]
•  To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to tackle a horse into a coach or wagon.  [1913 Webster]
•  To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple; as, a wrestler tackles his antagonist; a dog tackles the game.  [1913 Webster]

  "The greatest poetess of our day has wasted her time and strength in tackling windmills under conditions the most fitted to insure her defeat."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause the ball carrier to fall to the ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball and the play.  [PJC]
•  To begin to deal with; as, to tackle the problem.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tackle, n. & v.
--n.
1 equipment for a task or sport (fishing-tackle).
2 a mechanism, esp. of ropes, pulley-blocks, hooks, etc., for lifting weights, managing sails, etc. (block and tackle).
3 a windlass with its ropes and hooks.
4 an act of tackling in football etc.
5 Amer. Football a the position next to the end of the forward line. b the player in this position.
--v.tr.
1 try to deal with (a problem or difficulty).
2 grapple with or try to overcome (an opponent).
3 enter into discussion with.
4 obstruct, intercept, or seize and stop (a player running with the ball).
5 secure by means of tackle.

Idiom

tackle-block a pulley over which a rope runs. tackle-fall a rope for applying force to the blocks of a tackle.

Derivative

tackler n. tackling n.

Etymology

ME, prob. f. MLG takel f. taken lay hold of

THESAURUS

tackle

accept, accouterments, amateur athlete, apparatus, appliances, appointments, approach, appurtenances, archer, armament, assume, athlete, attack, attempt, attend to, back band, backstrap, bag and baggage, baggage, ballplayer, baseballer, baseman, batter, battery, bearing rein, bellyband, bit, blinders, blinds, block, blocking back, bowman, breeching, bridle, buckle to, caparison, carry on, cat, catcher, cavesson, center, checkrein, cheekpiece, chinband, cinch, clobber, coach, collar, competitor, conduct, confront, consume, conveniences, cordage, cording, crab, crane, crank, crank in, cricketer, crownband, crupper, curb, deck tackle, defensive lineman, demolish, derrick, destroy, devour, differential tackle, dive into, do, draw in, draw taut, duffel, dunnage, embark in, embark upon, employ, end, endeavor, engage in, enter on, enter upon, equipage, equipment, erector, exercise, face, face up to, facilities, facility, fall, fall into, fall to, fall upon, fittings, fixtures, follow, footballer, forklift, furnishings, furniture, gag swivel, games-player, gamester, gantry crane, gear, get busy, get cracking, get going, get under way, get with it, girth, give a fling, give a go, give a try, give a whirl, go about, go at, go in for, go into, go to it, go upon, grapple with, guard, habiliments, hackamore, halter, hames, hametugs, harness, have at, headgear, headstall, hip straps, hoist, hop to it, hydraulic tailgate, impedimenta, infielder, installations, jack, jackscrew, jaquima, jerk line, jigger, jock, jump to it, jumper, kit, launch forth, launch into, lay about, lever, lift, lifter, light into, lineman, lines, luff, luggage, machinery, make a try, martingale, materiel, move into, munition, munitions, noseband, offensive lineman, outfield, outfielder, outfit, paraphernalia, pitch in, pitch into, plant, player, plumbing, plunge into, pole strap, poloist, practice, proceed to, professional athlete, prosecute, pugilist, pull in, pulley, purchase, pursue, quarterback, racer, reel, reel in, reins, ribbons, rig, rigging, ropework, roping, runner, running rigging, saddle, sail into, service, serving, set about, set at, set forward, set going, set to, set to work, shaft tug, sheave, side check, skater, snaffle, specialize in, sport, sportsman, stand up to, standing rigging, start in, stock-in-trade, surcingle, tack, tackling, tailback, take on, take to, take up, tauten, things, tighten, tools, toxophilite, trappings, traps, trim, tug, turn to, undertake, use, utensils, venture upon, wade into, wage, whipping, winch, wind in, windlass, wingback, winker braces, work at, wrestler, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

tackle

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Undertaking

VB undertake, engage in, embark in, launch into, plunge into, volunteer, apprentice oneself to, engage, contract, take upon oneself, take upon one's shoulders, devote oneself to, take up, take in hand, tackle, set about, go about, set to, fall to, set to work, launch forth, set up shop, put in hand, put in execution, set forward, break the neck of a business, be in, for, put one's hand to, put one's foot in, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, go to do, begin one's, broach one's, institute one's, put one's hand to the plow, lay one's hand to the plow, put one's shoulder to the wheel, have in hand, have many irons in the fire.

Direction

VB direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.