grapnel

/ˈɡræp.nəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡræp.nəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrap-nᵊl/ (ame, mw)

grapnel — noun

  • grapnelsingular
  • grapnelsplural

1. A tool made of several metal hooks tied to one end of a rope, used for catching

1.名詞C1
釋義

A tool made of several metal hooks tied to one end of a rope, used for catching or pulling things underwater, or for holding a small boat in place as a lightweight anchor.

例句

The fisherman threw the grapnel over the side of the boat to stop it from drifting.

collocation: throw a grapnel

A grapnel with four sharp hooks helped the divers pull the sunken camera from the river.

同義詞
  • grappling hook

    more general term for a multi-hooked tool used both on land and in water

  • small anchor

    less specific; any lightweight anchor, not necessarily with multiple hooks

  • grapnel anchor

    full term emphasizing its function as an anchor rather than a retrieval tool

反義詞
  • mooring buoy

    a floating object used to tie up boats, not a hook-based tool

用法筆記

A grapnel is smaller and lighter than a standard ship anchor. The word is also used for the hooked tool that rock climbers and rescue workers throw to catch onto a surface.

常見錯誤

❌The ship dropped its grapnel in the deep ocean.
✅The small fishing boat dropped its grapnel near the shore.
💡A grapnel is a light anchor for small boats, not a large ship's anchor.