grapnel
- n a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope
- n a light anchor for small boats
- At some 500 feet the tanker's ejector flung out a grapnel.
- Diver George Crocker slid down a grapnel line to 370 feet, found that his special mixture of helium and oxygen (to keep nitrogen out of the blood stream, thus forestall bends .