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Entry 10 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Tackle

/(?; sometimes improperly pronounced ?, especially by seamen)/ · Tac·kle · IPA /ˈtækəl/
01 n. Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the rope and attachments, as distinct f…
  1. 1.
    Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the rope and attachments, as distinct from the block, in which case the full appratus is referred to as a block and tackle. Also: block and tackle
  2. 2.
    Any instruments of action; an apparatus by which an object is moved or operated; gear; as, fishing tackle, hunting tackle; formerly, specifically, weapons.
  3. 3.
    The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any purchase where more than one block is used.(Naut.)
Phrases & compounds
Fall and tackle — See the Note under Pulley.
Fishing tackle — See under Fishing, a.
Ground tackle — anchors, cables, etc.
Gun tackle — the apparatus or appliances for hauling cannon in or out.
Tackle fall — the rope, or rather the end of the rope, of a tackle, to which the power is applied.
Tack tackle — a small tackle to pull down the tacks of the principal sails.
Tackle board — a board, frame, or post, at the end of a ropewalk, for supporting the spindels, or whirls, for twisting the yarns.
02 n. An act of tackling{4}; as, brought down by a tackle by a lineman.
  1. 1.
    An act of tackling{4}; as, brought down by a tackle by a lineman.(Football)
  2. 2.
    One of two linemen on a football team, occupying a position between the guard and an end; also, the position played by such a tackle.(Football)
03 v. t. To supply with tackle.
imp. & p. p. Tackled; p. pr. & vb. n. Tackling
  1. 1.
    To supply with tackle.
  2. 2.
    To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to tackle a horse into a coach or wagon.[Colloq.]
  3. 3.
    To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple; as, a wrestler tackles his antagonist; a dog tackles the game.
    “The greatest poetess of our day has wasted her time and strength in tackling windmills under conditions the most fitted to insure her defeat.” — Dublin Univ. Mag.
  4. 4.
    To cause the ball carrier to fall to the ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball and the play.(Football)
  5. 5.
    To begin to deal with; as, to tackle the problem.