Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   {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.

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.

   2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join
      indissolubly.

            The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
                                                  --Hakluyt.

            Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
                                                  --Shak.

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.

   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}.

Source : WordNet®

grapple
     n 1: a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding;
          often thrown with a rope [syn: {grapnel}, {grappler}, {grappling
          hook}, {grappling iron}]
     2: a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam [syn:
         {clamshell}]
     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}, {grappling},
         {hand-to-hand struggle}]

grapple
     v 1: come to terms or deal successfully 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}, {deal}, {manage}]
     2: to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men
        grappled with each other for several minutes" [syn: {grip}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

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)].