Meaning & use
grapnel
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A metal tool with several curved hooks on a rope, thrown to catch and hold something.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a grapnel' or 'grapnels'.
Patterns
- throw a grapnel
- a grapnel catches something
The sailor threw the grapnel toward the rocky shore.
A grapnel can grip a ledge that is too steep to climb.
They used a grapnel to pull the floating log to the boat.
nouncountabletechnical
A small anchor with several arms, used to hold a small boat in place.
Grammar: Countable; often used in nautical contexts.
Patterns
- lower a grapnel
- anchor with a grapnel
The crew lowered the grapnel to keep the dinghy from drifting.
A grapnel is useful when the seabed is rocky.
They secured the boat with a grapnel near the reef.
Word forms
| plural | grapnels |
|---|
Common combinations
- grapnel anchor
- The small boat carried a grapnel anchor for emergency stops.
- throw a grapnel
- He threw a grapnel onto the pier to pull the rope across.
- grapnel hook
- The grapnel hook caught on a rock and held fast.
- grapnel line
- She coiled the grapnel line neatly on the deck.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grappling hook
- The everyday term; 'grapnel' is more technical and often refers to the anchor type.
- anchor
- A general word for a device that holds a boat; a grapnel is a specific kind of anchor.
Commonly confused: grapnel or grapple?
grapnel vs grapple
A verb meaning to struggle or fight; 'grapnel' is the noun for the hooked tool.
Practice
The sailors used a ______ to pull the debris from the water.
Choose one answer.
'Grapnel' is the correct noun for the hooked device. 'Grapple' is a verb, 'anchor' is too general here, and 'hook' alone is less specific.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grapnel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.