The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
Hakluyt.
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
Shak.
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.
Grapple*ment (?), n. A grappling; close fight or embrace. [Obs.]
Spenser.
<! p. 646 !>
Grap"pling (?), n. 1. A laying fast ho1d of; also, that by which
anything is seized and held, a grapnel.
2. A grapple; a struggle. A match for yards in fight, in grappling for
the bear. Dryden.
Grappling iron, a hooked iron used for grappling and holding fast a
vessel or other object. -- Grappling tongs, broad-mouthed tongs for
gathering oysters.
Grap"soid (?), a. [NL. Grapsus + - oid.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the
genus Grapsus or the family GrapsidÊ. -- n. A grapsoid crab.
Grap"to*lite (?), n. [NL, Graptolithus, from Gr. &?; is engraved,
written (gra`fein to write) + &?; stone.] (Paleon.) One of numerous
species of slender and delicate fossils, of the genus Graptolites and
allied genera, found in the Silurian rocks. They belong to an extinct
group (Graptolithina) supposed to be hydroids.
Grap"to*lit`ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to graptolites; containing
graptolites; as, a graptolitic slate.
Grap"y (?), a. Composed of, or resembling, grapes.
The grapy clusters.
Addison.
Grasp (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grasper (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Qraspine.]
[OE. graspen; prob. akin to LG. grupsen, or to E. grope. Cf. Grab,
Grope.] 1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers
or arms; to catch to take possession of.
Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff.
Shak.
2. To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or
conversant with; to comprehend.
Grasp, v. i. To effect a grasp; to make the motion of grasping; to
clutch; to struggle; to strive.
As one that grasped And tugged for life and was by strength
subdued.
Shak.
To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize; as, Alexander grasped at
universal empire,
Grasp, n. 1. A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or
infolding in the arms. "The grasps of love." Shak.
2. Reach of the arms; hence, the power of seizing and holding; as, it
was beyond his grasp.