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.
      [1913 Webster]

            And in my standard bear the arms of York,
            To grapple with the house of Lancaster. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2.
      (a) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing
          and holding fast to an object; a grab.
      (b) (Naut.) A grappling iron.
          [1913 Webster]

                The iron hooks and grapples keen. --Spenser.
          [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join
      indissolubly.
      [1913 Webster]

            The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
                                                  --Hakluyt.
      [1913 Webster]

            Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

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]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

122 Moby Thesaurus words for "grapple":
   abduct, adhere to, affix, anchor, annex, attach, battle, bear hug,
   belay, bite, box, brawl, broil, carry off, catch, cement, cinch,
   clamp, clash, clasp, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, clinging,
   clip, close, clutch, collide, combat, come to blows, contend,
   contend with, contest, cope with, cramp, cut and thrust, deal with,
   death grip, duel, embrace, engraft, exchange blows, face, fasten,
   fence, feud, fight, fight a duel, firm hold, fix, foothold,
   footing, freeze to, give and take, give satisfaction, grab, graft,
   grapple with, grasp, grip, gripe, hang on, hang on to, hold,
   hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hug, iron grip, jostle,
   joust, keep hold of, kidnap, knit, make fast, mix it up, moor, nab,
   nail, never let go, nip, purchase, put to, quarrel, rassle, riot,
   run a tilt, scramble, screw up, scuffle, secure, seize, seizure,
   set, set to, shanghai, skirmish, snatch, spar, stick to, strive,
   struggle, struggle with, tackle, take, take on, tenure, throttle,
   thrust and parry, tight grip, tighten, tilt, toehold, tourney,
   trice up, trim, tussle, wage war, war, wrestle



The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

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)].