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n. Nautical A small anchor with three or more flukes, especially one used for anchoring a small vessel. Also called grapple, grappling.

n. See grapple.

n. A small anchor, having more than two flukes, used for anchoring a small vessel.

n. A grappling iron.

n. A small anchor, with four or five flukes or claws, used to hold boats or small vessels; hence, any instrument designed to grapple or hold; a grappling iron; a grab; -- written also grapline, and crapnel.

n. A mechanical device consisting essentially of one or more hooks or clamps, used for grasping or holding something; a grapple; a grappling-iron.

n. Specifically A grappling-iron, used to seize and hold one ship to another in engagements preparatory to boarding. Also called grappling.

n. A boat's anchor having from three to six flukes placed at equal distances about the end of the shank. Also grapline.

n. A kind of heavy tongs used for hauling logs, stones, etc.

n. A device for grasping or taking hold of something not otherwise manageable or accessible, as for gripping and recovering tools in a bored well, for raising the core left by a diamond drill, for seizing a submarine telegraph-cable which needs repairs, etc.

n. a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope

n. a light anchor for small boats

"The grapnel is a small anchor, made like four pot-hooks tied back to back."

anchor    ground tackle   

grab   

hawser    drogue    panzer    boats'    klatha    gimmickry    sailcloth    packthread    raffia    shoaling