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.
To grapple with, to enter into contest with,
resolutely and courageously.
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster.
Shak.Grap"ple, n. [See Grapple, v.
t., and cf. Crapple.] 1. A seizing or
seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold.
Milton.
2. (a) An instrument, usually
with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a
grab. (b) (Naut.) A grappling
iron.
The iron hooks and grapples keen.
Spenser.
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.
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.
2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to
join indissolubly.
The gallies were grappled to the
Centurion.
Hakluyt.
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of
steel.
Shak.