From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grapple \Grap"ple\, 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.
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{To grapple with}, to enter into contest with, resolutely and
courageously.
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And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster. --Shak.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grapple \Grap"ple\, n. [See Grapple, v. t., and cf. Crapple.]
1. A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's
hold. --Milton.
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2.
(a) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing
and holding fast to an object; a grab.
(b) (Naut.) A grappling iron.
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The iron hooks and grapples keen. --Spenser.
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{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}.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grapple \Grap"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Grappled}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Grappling}.] [F. grappiller, OF. graypil the grapple of a
ship, fr. 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.
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2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join
indissolubly.
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The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
--Hakluyt.
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Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
--Shak.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
grapple
n 1: a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and
holding; often thrown with a rope [syn: {grapnel},
{grapple}, {grappler}, {grappling hook}, {grappling iron}]
2: a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam [syn:
{clamshell}, {grapple}]
3: the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had a
fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling with
the bully" [syn: {wrestle}, {wrestling}, {grapple},
{grappling}, {hand-to-hand struggle}]
v 1: come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas";
"They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" [syn:
{cope}, {get by}, {make out}, {make do}, {contend},
{grapple}, {deal}, {manage}]
2: to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men
grappled with each other for several minutes" [syn:
{grapple}, {grip}]
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