English
Noun
Tackle (countable and uncountable; plural Tackles)
- (nautical) A system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope.
- (fishing, uncountable) Equipment (rod, reel, line, lure, etc.) used when angling.
- (uncountable, informal) By extension, any piece of equipment, particularly gadgetry.
- 2004 June 24–30, "Jeff Gordon Never Gets Tired Of Seeing Face On Cheap Plastic Crap", The Onion, available in Embedded in America, ISBN 1400054567, page 193,
- ... an illuminated license-plate frame bearing his likeness, signature, and yellow number 24. "That there's a real nice piece of tackle. ..."
- (sports, countable) A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or football.
- (American football, countable) A play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground.
- (countable) Any instance in which one person forces another to the ground.
- (American football, uncountable) The offensive positions between each guard and end, offensive tackle.
- (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
- (American football, uncountable) The defensive positions between two ends, defensive tackle.
- (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
- (slang) Penis.
Derived terms
Verb
Tackle (third-person singular simple present tackles, present participle tackling, simple past and past participle tackled)
- to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down
- The government's measures to tackle crime were insufficient.
- (sports) to attempt to take away a ball
- (American football) to bring a ball carrier to the ground
Thesaurus
accept, accouterments, amateur athlete, apparatus, appliances, appointments, approach, appurtenances, archer, armament, assume, athlete, attack, attempt, attend to, back band, backstrap, bag and baggage, baggage, ballplayer, baseballer, baseman, batter, battery, bearing rein, bellyband, bit, blinders, blinds, block, blocking back, bowman, breeching, bridle, buckle to, caparison, carry on, cat, catcher, cavesson, center, checkrein, cheekpiece, chinband, cinch, clobber, coach, collar, competitor, conduct, confront, consume, conveniences, cordage, cording, crab, crane, crank, crank in, cricketer, crownband, crupper, curb, deck tackle, defensive lineman, demolish, derrick, destroy, devour, differential tackle, dive into, do, draw in, draw taut, duffel, dunnage, embark in, embark upon, employ, end, endeavor, engage in, enter on, enter upon, equipage, equipment, erector, exercise, face, face up to, facilities, facility, fall, fall into, fall to, fall upon, fittings, fixtures, follow, footballer, forklift, furnishings, furniture, gag swivel, games-player, gamester, gantry crane, gear, get busy, get cracking, get going, get under way, get with it, girth, give a fling, give a go, give a try, give a whirl, go about, go at, go in for, go into, go to it, go upon, grapple with, guard, habiliments, hackamore, halter, hames, hametugs, harness, have at, headgear, headstall, hip straps, hoist, hop to it, hydraulic tailgate, impedimenta, infielder, installations, jack, jackscrew, jaquima, jerk line, jigger, jock, jump to it, jumper, kit, launch forth, launch into, lay about, lever, lift, lifter, light into, lineman, lines, luff, luggage, machinery, make a try, martingale, materiel, move into, munition, munitions, noseband, offensive lineman, outfield, outfielder, outfit, paraphernalia, pitch in, pitch into, plant, player, plumbing, plunge into, pole strap, poloist, practice, proceed to, professional athlete, prosecute, pugilist, pull in, pulley, purchase, pursue, quarterback, racer, reel, reel in, reins, ribbons, rig, rigging, ropework, roping, runner, running rigging, saddle, sail into, service, serving, set about, set at, set forward, set going, set to, set to work, shaft tug, sheave, side check, skater, snaffle, specialize in, sport, sportsman, stand up to, standing rigging, start in, stock-in-trade, surcingle, tack, tackling, tailback, take on, take to, take up, tauten, things, tighten, tools, toxophilite, trappings, traps, trim, tug, turn to, undertake, use, utensils, venture upon, wade into, wage, whipping, winch, wind in, windlass, wingback, winker braces, work at, wrestler, yoke
Etymology
From Middle English takel (“gear, apparatus”), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel (“ship's rigging”), perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken (“to grasp, seize”). Akin to Danish takkel (“tackle”), Swedish tackel (“tackle”). More at take.
Pronunciation
Translations
Noun
nautical: system of ropes and blocks
sports: attempt to take control over the ball
American football: play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground
instance of forcing another person to the ground
American football: person playing offensive tackle
American football: person playing defensive tackle
Verb
to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down
sports: to attempt to take away a ball
American football: to bring a ball carrier to the ground
