rappel
verb
rap·pel rə-ˈpel 
ra-
rappelled also rappeled; rappelling also rappeling
intransitive verb
: to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope passed under one thigh, across the body, and over the opposite shoulder or through a special friction device
rappel noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Eventually, guides from the mountain were able to rappel into the volcanic crater and help him out. 
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 12 July 2022 For this week's challenge, competitors must rappel down a 22-story building, solving a series of math equations the entire way. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 7 July 2022 Alas, Santos was afraid of heights and didn’t want to rappel down and grab it. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2022 The discovery didn’t shock a team of speleologists (who study caves) and spelunkers (who rappel into them for fun) exploring the sinkhole. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 13 May 2022 Her fondest memory of teaching dates from this period and involves a spider, of all things, which would rappel from the ceiling during class, always out of reach. Stephen Noonoo, The New Republic, 2 May 2022 Miraculously, the eaglet survived through the night outside of its nest, which gave Sharpe and his team the opportunity to rappel down the side of the rock, place the eaglet in a gym bag and hoist it back up to its nest. Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2022 Firefighters set up a rope system to rappel down to Baccellieri and launched a water rescue unit, according to a Facebook post from the Rochester Fire Department. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 20 Apr. 2022 Five MRA field members were able to rappel down to the hikers from the helicopter, and then raise them back up to the trail to hike out. The Editors, Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2014 See More
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 12 July 2022 For this week's challenge, competitors must rappel down a 22-story building, solving a series of math equations the entire way. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 7 July 2022 Alas, Santos was afraid of heights and didn’t want to rappel down and grab it. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2022 The discovery didn’t shock a team of speleologists (who study caves) and spelunkers (who rappel into them for fun) exploring the sinkhole. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 13 May 2022 Her fondest memory of teaching dates from this period and involves a spider, of all things, which would rappel from the ceiling during class, always out of reach. Stephen Noonoo, The New Republic, 2 May 2022 Miraculously, the eaglet survived through the night outside of its nest, which gave Sharpe and his team the opportunity to rappel down the side of the rock, place the eaglet in a gym bag and hoist it back up to its nest. Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2022 Firefighters set up a rope system to rappel down to Baccellieri and launched a water rescue unit, according to a Facebook post from the Rochester Fire Department. Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE.com, 20 Apr. 2022 Five MRA field members were able to rappel down to the hikers from the helicopter, and then raise them back up to the trail to hike out. The Editors, Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2014 See More Word History
Etymology
French, literally, recall, from Old French rapel, from rapeler to recall, from re- + apeler to appeal, call — more at appeal
First Known Use
1944, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
rappel
verb
rap·pel
rə-ˈpel,
ra-
rappelled; rappelling
: to move down a steep slope (as a cliff) by pushing the feet against its surface and sliding down a rope