The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grapple \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.
   [1913 Webster]

   To grapple with, to enter into contest with, resolutely and
      courageously.
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            And in my standard bear the arms of York,
            To grapple with the house of Lancaster. --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grapple \Grap"ple\, n. [See Grapple, v. t., and cf. Crapple.]
   1. A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's
      hold. --Milton.
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   2.
      (a) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing
          and holding fast to an object; a grab.
      (b) (Naut.) A grappling iron.
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                The iron hooks and grapples keen. --Spenser.
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   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.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grapple \Grap"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grappled; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Grappling.] [F. grappiller, OF. graypil the grapple of a
   ship, fr. graper to pluck, prop., to seize, clutch; of German
   origin. See Grape.]
   1. To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack at close
      quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist.
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   2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join
      indissolubly.
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            The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
                                                  --Hakluyt.
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            Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
                                                  --Shak.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

grapple
    n 1: a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and
         holding; often thrown with a rope [syn: grapnel,
         grapple, grappler, grappling hook, grappling iron]
    2: a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam [syn:
       clamshell, grapple]
    3: the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had a
       fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling with
       the bully" [syn: wrestle, wrestling, grapple,
       grappling, hand-to-hand struggle]
    v 1: come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas";
         "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" [syn:
         cope, get by, make out, make do, contend,
         grapple, deal, manage]
    2: to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men
       grappled with each other for several minutes" [syn:
       grapple, grip]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

GRAPPLE

   GRAPh Processing LanguagE.  1968.

   ["A Directed Graph Representation for Computer Simulation of
   Belief Systems", L.G. Tesler et al, Math Biosciences 2:19-40
   (1968)].