Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rappels, present participle rappelling, past tense, past participle rappelled
verb
To rappel down a cliff or rock face means to slide down it in a controlled way using a rope, with your feet against the cliff or rock.
[US]
They learned to rappel down a cliff. [VERB preposition]
regional note: in BRIT, use abseil
rappel in British English
(ræˈpɛl)
verbWord forms: -pels, -pelling or -pelled
1. another word (esp US) for abseil
noun
2. another word (esp US) for abseil
3.
(formerly) a drumbeat to call soldiers to arms
Word origin
C19: from French, from rappeler to call back, from Latin appellāre to summon
rappel in American English
(ræˈpel, rə-) (verb-pelled, -pelling)
noun
1. (in mountaineering)
the act or method of moving down a steep incline or past an overhang by means of a double rope secured above and placed around the body, usually under the left thigh and over the right shoulder, and paid out gradually in the descent
intransitive verb
2.
to descend by means of a rappel
Word origin
[1930–35; ‹ F: mountaineering term, lit., a recall. See repeal]
Examples of 'rappel' in a sentence
rappel
Steel carabiners snapped securely into place, anchoring the rope Joy would use to rappel down into the unexplored room that bore her name.