Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

Grappling \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.

Source : WordNet®

grappling
     n 1: 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}, {hand-to-hand struggle}]
     2: taking the bull by the horns [syn: {braving}, {confronting},
         {coping with}, {tackling}]
     3: the sport of hand-to-hand struggle between unarmed
        contestants who try to throw each other down [syn: {wrestling},
         {rassling}]