English
grapnel
Grapnel comes from Old French grapil.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400grapil
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500grapnel
- Englishearliest quotation 1589same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400grapil
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500grapnel
- Englishearliest quotation 1589same form
Earliest quotation: 1589, Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations: “[…] we espied towards the North end of the…”
Every English word from Old French grapil
Today it means
noun A small anchor, having more than two flukes, used for anchoring a small vessel.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French grapil / grapnel