grapple

grapple · verb, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*gʰrebʰ-“to take, seize, rake”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*graipilōną
3. Old English · derived from*græpplian“to seize”
4. Middle English · derived from*grapplen“to seize, lay hold of”
5. English todaygrapple

From Middle English *grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”), from Old English *græpplian (“to seize”) (compare Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”)), from Proto-Germanic *graipilōną, *grabbalōną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), equivalent to grab + -le. Cognate with Dutch grabbelen (“to grope, scramble, scrabble”), German grabbeln (“to rummage, grope about”) and grapsen, grapschen (“to seize, grasp, grabble”). Influenced in some senses by grapple (“tool with claws or hooks”, noun) (see below). See further at grasp.

grapple · noun, verb²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ger-“to turn, bend, twist”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*grep-“hook”
3. Frankish · derived from*krappō“hook”
4. Old French · derived fromgrape
5. Old French · derived fromgrappil“a ship's grapple”
6. Middle English · derived from*grapple
7. English todaygrapple

From Middle English *grapple, *graple, from Old French grappil (“a ship's grapple”) (compare Old French grappin (“hook”)), from Old French grape, grappe, crape (“hook”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *krappō (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *grep- (“hook”), *gremb- (“crooked, uneven”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend, twist”). See further at grape. Influenced in some senses by grapple (“seize”, verb) (see above).

grapple · noun³

Blend of grape + apple.

Words from the same roots