The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tackling \Tac"kling\, n. (Naut.)
   1. Furniture of the masts and yards of a vessel, as cordage,
      sails, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Instruments of action; as, fishing tackling. --Walton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The straps and fixures adjusted to an animal, by which he
      draws a carriage, or the like; harness.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tackle \Tac"kle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tackled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Tackling.] [Cf. LG. takeln to equip. See Tackle, n.]
   1. To supply with tackle. --Beau. & Fl.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to
      tackle a horse into a coach or wagon. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple; as, a wrestler
      tackles his antagonist; a dog tackles the game.
      [1913 Webster]

            The greatest poetess of our day has wasted her time
            and strength in tackling windmills under conditions
            the most fitted to insure her defeat. --Dublin Univ.
                                                  Mag.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Football) To cause the ball carrier to fall to the
      ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball and the
      play.
      [PJC]

   5. To begin to deal with; as, to tackle the problem.
      [PJC]

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Tackling
   (Isa. 33:23), the ropes attached to the mast of a ship. In Acts
   27:19 this word means generally the furniture of the ship or the
   "gear" (27:17), all that could be removed from the ship.