grapnel

[grap-nl] /ˈgræp nl/
noun
1.
a device consisting essentially of one or more hooks or clamps, for grasping or holding something; grapple; grappling iron.
2.
a small anchor with three or more flukes, used for grappling or dragging or for anchoring a small boat, as a skiff.
Also called grapeline, graplin, grapline
[grap-lin] /ˈgræp lɪn/ (Show IPA).
Origin
1325-75; Middle English grapnel(l), diminutive of Old French grapin, diminutive of grape hook, grape
Examples from the web for grapnel
  • They board from under the stern, out of sight of the bridge, by throwing a grapnel up to the rail and climbing up the rope.
  • In this method, the receiving aircraft trailed a long horizontal line with a grapnel at the end.
  • The use of a grapnel would only be required to locate a potential fault in buried sections of the route.
British Dictionary definitions for grapnel

grapnel

/ˈɡræpnəl/
noun
1.
a device with a multiple hook at one end and attached to a rope, which is thrown or hooked over a firm mooring to secure an object attached to the other end of the rope
2.
a light anchor for small boats
Word Origin
C14: from Old French grapin a little hook, from grape a hook; see grape
Word Origin and History for grapnel
n.

"small hook," late 14c., Anglo-French diminutive of grapon, from Old French grapil, grapin "hook," diminutive of grape "hook" (see grape). Earlier form was grapel (see grapple).