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n. 1. 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, grappling, grappling hook, grappling iron. b. See grapnel. 2. 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. 3. The act of grappling. 4. 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. v. grap·pled, grap·pling, grap·ples v.tr. 1. To seize and hold with a grapple: grappled the prow of the ship. 2. 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). v.intr. 1. 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). 2. To use a grapple or similar device, as for dragging. 3. 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. grappler n.  (click for a larger image) grapple |
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