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grap·nel

(grăpnəl)

1. A small anchor with three or more flukes, especially one used for anchoring a small vessel. Also called grapple, grappling.

2. See grapple.

[Middle English grapenel, probably ultimately from Old French grapin, hook, diminutive of grape; see GRAPE.]

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grapnel

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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