Part 593

To grapple with, to enter into contest with, resolutely and courageously.

And in my standard bear the arms of York, To grapple with the house of Lancaster.

Shak.

Grap"ple, n. [See Grapple, v. t., and cf. Crapple.] 1. A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold. Milton.

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

The iron hooks and grapples keen.

Spenser.

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.

Grapple*ment (?), n. A grappling; close fight or embrace. [Obs.] Spenser.

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Grap"pling (?), n. 1. A laying fast ho1d of; also, that by which anything is seized and held, a grapnel.

2. A grapple; a struggle. A match for yards in fight, in grappling for the bear. Dryden.

Grappling iron, a hooked iron used for grappling and holding fast a vessel or other object. -- Grappling tongs, broad-mouthed tongs for gathering oysters.

Grap"soid (?), a. [NL. Grapsus + - oid.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the genus Grapsus or the family GrapsidÊ. -- n. A grapsoid crab.

Grap"to*lite (?), n. [NL, Graptolithus, from Gr. &?; is engraved, written (gra`fein to write) + &?; stone.] (Paleon.) One of numerous species of slender and delicate fossils, of the genus Graptolites and allied genera, found in the Silurian rocks. They belong to an extinct group (Graptolithina) supposed to be hydroids.

Grap"to*lit`ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to graptolites; containing graptolites; as, a graptolitic slate.

Grap"y (?), a. Composed of, or resembling, grapes.

The grapy clusters.

Addison.

Grasp (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grasper (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Qraspine.] [OE. graspen; prob. akin to LG. grupsen, or to E. grope. Cf. Grab, Grope.] 1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms; to catch to take possession of.

Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff.

Shak.

2. To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend.

Grasp, v. i. To effect a grasp; to make the motion of grasping; to clutch; to struggle; to strive.

As one that grasped And tugged for life and was by strength subdued.

Shak.

To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize; as, Alexander grasped at universal empire,

Grasp, n. 1. A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or infolding in the arms. "The grasps of love." Shak.