grapnel
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grapnel
- /ˈɡɹæpnəl/
Rhymes with -æpnəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English grapnel, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French grapil, grapin. Compare modern French grappin.
noun grapnels
-
A small anchor, having more than two flukes, used for anchoring a small vessel.
[…] we espied towards the North end of the Iland ye light of a great fire thorow the woods, to the which we presently rowed: when wee came right ouer against it, we let fall our Grapnel neere the shore, & sounded with a trumpet a Call […]
Similar: graplin
- A device with a multiple hook at one end and attached to a rope, which is thrown or hooked over a firm mooring to secure an object attached to the other end of the rope.
- A grappling iron. […] the wind dying away, the signal was made for casting anchor, when both ships came to in 26 fathom water; but the Resolution expecting to come to with her small stream anchor, let the whole run out, and lost both anchor and hauser, besides the ship’s grapnel in looking for it.
- Something likened to a grapnel, especially something used to search, grasp, or retrieve. It was a very dubious-looking, nay, a very dark and dismal night, bitingly cold and cheerless. I knew no one in the place. With anxious grapnels I had sounded my pocket, and only brought up a few pieces of silver,—So, wherever you go, Ishmael, said I to myself, as I stood in the middle of a dreary s
verb grapnels · grapneling · grapnelling · grapneled · grapnelled
- To connect (ships) with a grapnel.
Translations
Every language
noun small anchor
| Ελληνικά | αγκουρέτο agkouréto |
|---|
Talk about this word "grapnel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/grapnel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. grapnel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/grapnel "grapnel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/grapnel.Cite this
@misc{grapnel_2026,
title = {grapnel},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/grapnel},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
