grappling iron
- noun
- /ˈɡræp.lɪŋ ˈaɪ.ərn/
:
garfio
- During the rescue operation, they tossed a grappling iron to reach the stranded climbers.
Examples
-
He threw a grappling iron across the last few feet.
Fiction book (1994) -
The firefighter used a grappling iron to secure the safety rope to the building.
-
With a well-aimed throw, the diver sent the grappling iron into the wreck to retrieve equipment.
Synonyms
6
7.4
A tool with hooks used to grab and lift things
4
5.7
A set of hooks on a rope used to catch and hold things like a wall or ship
1
9.1
A tool with hooks on a rope that you throw to catch or pull things
1
9.5
A small hook with several points on a rope used to hold or pull things
How Secure
Surface Forms
Morphology
grappling + iron
The compound is compositional: 'grappling' (relating to grappling/seizing) plus 'iron' (a metal tool) yields a metal tool used for grappling or hooking. This follows a common English noun+noun/participle compounding pattern and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings can infer the MWE's purpose.
Etymology
Grappling iron names an old, simple hooked iron tool that people would throw with a rope so the hooks could catch on a ledge or on wreckage. So, grappling iron means a metal hook used to 'grasp', hold, or pull objects.