grappler

grap·ple

G0234500 (grăp′əl)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.

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[Middle English grapel, from Old French grapil, diminutive of grape, hook; see grape.]

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grap′pler n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	grappler - combatant who tries to throw opponent to the groundmatman, wrestlerbantamweight - weighs 115-126 poundsbattler, belligerent, combatant, fighter, scrapper - someone who fights (or is fighting)featherweight - weighs 126-139 poundsflyweight - weighs no more than 115 poundsheavyweight - a wrestler who weighs more than 214 poundslight heavyweight - a wrestler who weighs 192-214 poundslightweight - a wrestler who weighs 139-154 poundsmiddleweight - a wrestler who weighs 172-192 poundssumo wrestler - a wrestler who participates in sumo (a Japanese form of wrestling); "sumo wrestlers are large heavy men"welterweight - a wrestler who weighs 154-172 pounds
	2.	grappler - a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a ropegrapnel, grapple, grappling hook, grappling ironcrampon, crampoon - a hinged pair of curved iron bars; used to raise heavy objectsclaw, hook - a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull somethingtool - an implement used in the practice of a vocation