tackle

tackle [tak′əl; ] for n. 5, naut. [ tā′kəl]

n.

[ME takel < MDu, pulley, rope, equipment in general, prob. akin to MLowG tacken, to touch, press, ? akin to TAKE]

1. apparatus; equipment; gear [fishing tackle]

2. a rope and pulley block, or a system of ropes and pulleys, used to lower, raise, or move various objects

3. the act or an instance of tackling, as in football

☆ 4. Football

a) an offensive lineman who is primarily a blocker, usually positioned just outside an offensive guard

b) a defensive lineman usually positioned near the offensive center

c) a type of football in which the defensive players tackle the ballcarrier: cf. TOUCH FOOTBALL: in full tackle football

5. Naut.

a) Archaic a ship's rigging

b) later, the running rigging and pulleys to operate the sails

vt.

tackled, tackling

1. to fasten by means of tackle

2. to harness (a horse)

3. to take hold of; seize

4.

a) to undertake to do or solve (something difficult) [to tackle a job]

b) to deal with (a difficult person)

5. Football to stop (an opponent carrying the ball), esp. by knocking or throwing to the ground

6. to knock or throw to the ground [a policeman tackled the fleeing robber]

vi.

1. Football to stop an opponent who is carrying the ball, esp. by knocking or throwing the opponent to the ground

2. to knock or throw someone to the ground

tackler

n.