overwordExplorer
ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

grapnel.

A small anchor, having more than two flukes, used for anchoring a small vessel.

7 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈɡɹæpnəl/
  1. A small anchor, having more than two flukes, used for anchoring a small vessel.

  2. A device with a multiple hook at one end and attached to a rope, which is thrown or hooked over a firm mooring to secure an object attached to the other end of the rope.

  3. A grappling iron.

Where this word comes from

From Middle English grapnel, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French grapil, grapin. Compare modern French grappin.

verb/ˈɡɹæpnəl/
  1. To connect (ships) with a grapnel.

    transitive
Where this word comes from

From Middle English grapnel, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French grapil, grapin. Compare modern French grappin.

FROM WORD TO NAME

Try it on your idea.

grapnel has 7 characters. Say it out loud, try it alongside a description of your project, and see whether its meaning fits what you want to create.

grapnel studiograpnel workshello, grapnel

These are naming prompts. Meanings and pronunciation can vary; existing brand and domain uses have not been checked.

Explore the name generator

A word with a source.

Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.