tackle Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the person who plays that position on a football team
- the right tackle is a straight A student
noun gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails
rigging.
noun gear used in fishing
fishing gear; fishing rig; rig; fishing tackle.
noun (American football) a position on the line of scrimmage
- it takes a big man to play tackle
noun (American football) grasping an opposing player with the intention of stopping by throwing to the ground
verb accept as a challenge
take on; undertake.
- I'll tackle this difficult task
verb put a harness
harness.
- harness the horse
verb seize and throw down an opponent player, who usually carries the ball

OE. takel, akin to LG. & D. takel, Dan. takkel, Sw. tackel; perhaps akin to E. taw, v.t., or to take.

Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the rope and attachments, as distinct from the block.
Any instruments of action; an apparatus by which an object is moved or operated; gear; as, fishing tackle, hunting tackle; formerly, specifically, weapons. "She to her tackle fell." Hudibras. ✍ In Chaucer, it denotes usually an arrow or arrows.
(Naut.) The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any purchase where more than one block is used.

Cf. LG. takeln to equip. See Tackle, n.

imperfect & past participle Tackled ; present participle & verbal noun Tackling

To supply with tackle. Beau. & Fl.
To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to tackle a horse into a coach or wagon. Colloq.
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.
(Football) To cause the ball carrier to fall to the ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball.
To begin to deal with; as, to tackle the problem.