▪ I. tackle, n.
(ˈtæk(ə)l)
Forms: 3–6 takel, 4–6 Sc. takil(l, 4–8 tacle, takle, 5 takul(l, 5–6 takell, -yl, -yll, tackyl (tickell), 6–7 tackel, -ell, 6–8 Sc. taikle, (8 teakle, Sc. -kil), 6– tackle.
[app. of Low German origin: cf. MLG. takel equipment generally, e.g. of a horseman, spec. of a ship, hoisting apparatus, LG. takel, also early mod.Du. takel strong rope, hawser, pulley, mod.Ger. takel, Sw. tackel, Da. takkel tackle; f. MLG. taken, MDu. tacken to lay hold of, grasp, seize, with instrumental suffix -el: see -le 1.]
1. Apparatus, utensils, instruments, implements, appliances; equipment, furniture, gear.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 883 And tol and takel and orf he [Abram] dede Wenden hom to here oȝen stede. 13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xxviii. 32 Vr takel, vr tol, þat we on trowe. 1464 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 248 Payd ffor my masterys takelys, ij.d. 1539 Will L. Godsman (Somerset Ho.), Item I give all my tickell..to the chapell of Saynt James to the making of the Northe Ille. 1626 B. Jonson Staple of N. Epil., We'are sorry that haue so mis-spent Our Time and Tackle. 1669 Penn No Cross i. iv. §10 To transport themselves, or tackle in a Journey. 1717 Derham in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 365, I am sorry my tackle was not ready when you would have favoured me with your company. 1815 F. Burney Diary (1876) IV. 295 As I had no writing tackle, I sent him..to procure me proper implements at the stationer's. 1889 J. K. Jerome Three Men in Boat 64 George wanted the shaving tackle. |
2. a. Freq. with
pronunc. (
ˈteɪk(ə)l). The rigging of a ship: in early use often in wider sense of ‘equipment’ or ‘gear’ as in 1; in later use
spec. the running rigging or ropes used in working the sails, etc., with their pulleys; passing into sense 3.
ground tackle, anchors, cables, etc., by which a ship is made fast to the ground.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 24944 Ful fair bicome þat see to sight, And þai bigan þair takel dight. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 312 The reyni Storm fell doun algates, And al here takel made unwelde. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 226 Dresseth surely the ropes and shyp tacle. 1481 Caxton Godeffroy 261 They..bare away cordes, cables and saylles, and the other takle, and leyde it in the fortresse. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xxi. 27 b, Vpon all the gallies..and other vessels all along vpon the takels, yardes, and other ropes and poupes.., aboue 300 candels. 1633 Sir J. Boroughs Sov. Brit. Seas (1651) 125 To brooke the seas, and to know the use of the tackles, and compasse. 1671 Milton Samson 717 With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and streamers waving. a 1687 Sir W. Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) 14 Holland is..for keeping Ships in Harbour with small expence of Men and ground Tackle. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 282 The Second Shot..carry'd away..our Fore-stay Tackle. 1885 Sir J. C. Matthew in Law Times Rep. LII. 265/1 The vessel..was sold as she lay with her gear and tackle. |
b. Cordage; a rope used for any purpose.
| 1529 Act 21 Hen. VIII, c. 12 §1 Diuers..persons..provide Hemp, and thereof make Cables, Ropes,..Traces, Halters, and other Tackle. 1542 Aberdeen Regr. (1844) I. 185 For vij stane of takkillis..for bynding of the gunnis. 1570 Levins Manip. 6/11 A Tackle, capulum. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 454 ¶4 The Tackle of the Coach-window is so bad she cannot draw it up again. |
| fig. 1893 Stevenson Heathercat iii, The circle of faces was strangely characteristic; long, serious, strongly marked, the tackle standing out in the lean brown cheeks. |
3. a. An arrangement consisting of a rope and pulley-block, or more usually a combination of ropes and blocks, used to obtain a purchase in raising or shifting a heavy body.
| 1539–40 in Devon. N. & Q. Oct. (1903) 238 Ropys, poleys and other takle to hawse uppe the ledde uppon the Castell. 1626 Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 16 Sheeps feet is a stay in setling a top mast, and a guie in staying the tackles when they are charged with goods. 1722 in Hist. Brechin (1867) 133 Item for a big teakil, being double the hight of the small steeple {pstlg}40 Scots. 1731 Desaguliers in Phil. Trans. XXXVII. 292 The Machine consists of three Pullies (two upper and one lower, or a Tackle of Three). 1769 K. Fitz Gerald in Phil. Trans. LX. 78 It would not be difficult, with a proper teakle, to raise a barometer of this kind..as high as 200 feet. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 507 The cannon were raised by large brass tacles..from rock to rock. 1830 Kater & Lardner Mech. xv. 198 A combination of blocks, sheaves, and ropes is called a tackle. 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 107 A simple tackle consists of one or more pulleys rove with a single rope. |
b. A windlass and its appurtenances, used for hoisting ore, etc.; also, generally, the apparatus of cages or kibbles, with their chains and hooks, for raising ore or coal.
| 1874 J. H. Collins Metal Mining (1875) 79 The first machine used in mining operations for raising ore or deads is usually the tackle or windlass. 1881 Raymond Mining Gloss., Tackle (Corn.), the windlass, rope, and kibble. |
† 4. a. Implements of war, weapons;
esp. arrows; also, a weapon; an arrow.
Obs.| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints v. (Johannes) 486 It [a bow] suld hafe bene sone out of pyth To schot ony takil vith. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 106 A sheef of pecok arwes bright and kene..Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly. c 1400 Rom. Rose 1729 Shette att me so wondir smert, That thorough myn eye unto myn hert The takel smote, and depe it wente. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 485/2 Tacle, or wepene, armamentum. 1513 Douglas æneis ix. x. 78 His bow..bend hes he, Tharin a takyll set of sovyr tre. a 1550 Christis Kirke Gr. x, Ane hasty hensure, callit Hary..Tilt up a taikle withouten tary. 1663 Butler Hud. i. iii. 823 This said, she to her Tackle fell, And on the Knight let fall a peal Of Blows so fierce. |
† b. Phr.
to stand (or stick) to one's tackle:
cf. tackling vbl. n. 3.
Obs.| 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. I. 119/1 The Englishmen would in no wise giue ouer, but did sticke to their tackle. 1586 J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 9/2 To incourage his people to stand to their tackle, and valiently to withstand Mac Morough. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 187 Two regiments of country militia..stood to their tackle better than well enough [in defence of a town]. 1828 E. Irving Last Days 230 You would have armed the house against him, and stood to your tackle all the night. 1841 C. Brontë Let. 1 July in Wise & Symington Brontës (1932) I. 234 Mrs. White offered me a week..but I demanded three weeks, and stood to my tackle with a tenacity worthy of yourself. |
5. Apparatus for fishing; fishing-gear, fishing-tackle.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xi. viii. (Tollem. MS.), Aristotel sayeþ þat fischeres heldeþ hoot water on here instrumentes and takles, þat þey be þe raþer frore. Ibid. xiii. xxix, [The fish] comeþ ofter in to newe tacle þat is set for hem, þan in to olde. 1711 Gay Rural Sports i. 181 The Peacock's plumes, thy tackle must not fail. 1783 Johnson 20 Apr. in Boswell, I indeed now could fish, give me English tackle. 1850 Act 13 & 14 Vict. c. 88 §1 The word ‘net’ shall..include all descriptions of tackle, trawl, trammel, stake, bag, coghill, eel, haul, draft, and seine nets. 1867 F. Francis Angling i. (1880) 27 Use the very neatest tackle which you can afford for roach. |
6. The equipment of a horse; harness.
| 1683 Burnet tr. More's Utopia (1685) 115 Take off both his Saddle, and all his other Tackle. 1725 T. Thomas in Portland Papers VI. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 133 [The] coach..I thought could hardly have been able to get over..without some loss either to the poor beasts, or the tackle. 1728 Vanbrugh & Cib. Prov. Husb. i. i, Our Tackle was not so tight as it should be. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 102 I've backed two a week since I came, and have three in tackle, in the yard now. |
† 7. A mistress.
Obs. slang.| 1688 Shadwell Sqr. Alsatia iv. Wks. 1720 IV. 85 Oh my dear Blowing, my Convenient, My tackle. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Tackle, a Mistress. |
8. Victuals; food or drink; ‘stuff’.
slang.| 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. iv, The purl warms the cockles of Tom's heart... ‘Rare tackle that, sir, of a cold morning’, says the coachman. 1900 G. Swift Somerley 113 Do you think ladies usually eat that stodgy tackle? |
9. [from the
vb.]
a. Rugby Football. The act of tackling: see
tackle v. 5.
| 1876 in P. H. Davis Football (1911) 462 A tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side. 1898 A. Spurling in W. A. Morgan ‘House’ on Sport 170 If you are running after an opponent who has the ball, and find he is gaining on you, don't give up, as he may be checked, and you have the pleasure of making a good tackle. 1901 Scotsman 11 Mar. 4/8 Neill, by a plucky tackle..prevented a break away. 1905 Oxford Mag. 22 Feb. 215/1 One of his tackles was excellent. |
b. In American football: Each of two players (right and left) stationed next to the end rusher or forward in the rush-line.
| 1891 W. Camp Amer. Football 41 The tackle is an assistant to both end and guard. 1894 Outing (U.S.) XXIV. 281/1 Every one knew he had been a famous tackle on one of the football teams. 1905 McClure's Mag. (U.S.) June 123/2 Captain and right-tackle of the the Yale eleven. |
c. The act of tackling in other sports.
Cf. tackle v. 5 (
c).
| 1930 M. Pollard Hockey for Women viii. 106 A defence player can run towards the tackle, but she should never run into it. 1967 J. Potter Foul Play x. 120 Basil was out of the goal in a lightning flash, cutting off the pass with a sliding tackle. |
10. attrib. and
Comb., as
tackle-box,
tackle-chain,
tackle-dealer,
tackle-hook,
tackle-maker,
tackle-shop;
tackle-block = block n. 5;
tackle-board, a frame, placed at the end of a rope-walk, containing the whirls to which the yarns are attached to be twisted;
tackle-fall = fall n.1 26;
tackle-man, a man who works the tackle,
e.g. of a gun;
tackle-room, a room in which horse tackle is stored;
cf. tack room s.v. tack n.7 b. See
tackle-house, -porter.
| 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §122 A pair of *tackle-blocks. |
| 1902 Chambers's Jrnl. Oct. 702/2 This will render carrying a tin *tackle-box unnecessary. 1905 Daily Chron. 26 July 4/7 Banks..lined with seedy, quiet, elderly men with tackle-boxes, evening papers, and roach-poles. |
| 1865 S. Ferguson Lays West. Gael 119 The windlass strains the *tackle chains, the black mound heaves below. |
| 1698 in MSS. Ho. Lords (1905) III. 338 We were forced to unreeve our *tackle-falls to make lanyards for our lower shrouds. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789), Garant, a tackle-fall, or the part upon which the labourers pull in hoisting. |
| 1832 Chambers's Edin. Jrnl. 7 Apr. 87/1 The lines of the angler may be bought from the *tackle makers. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. ix, The little tackle⁓maker..would soon have made his fortune had the rage lasted. |
| 1859 F. A. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 207 Traversing *tacklemen..7 and 8. 1873 Routledge's Yng. Gentl. Mag. Jan. 79/2 The ‘rear tackleman’..held the end of the tackle. |
| 1951 Chambers's Jrnl. Oct. 587/1 You enter the *tackle-room, where surgical harness is stored. 1962 A. Fry Ranch on Cariboo v. 53 Like all cabins, [it] was kitchen, dining and living all rolled into one, sometimes even tackle room. |
| 1909 Nation (N.Y.) 3 Oct. 12/1 Flies..bought at a *tackle-shop. |
▪ II. tackle, v. (
ˈtæk(ə)l)
Forms: see
n. [f. prec. So Da. takle, Sw. tackla to tackle, to rig a ship.] [In the following, a
MS. variant of
tagild: see
tagle v.
a 1340 Hampole
Psalter, Cant. 512
Þaire affecciouns ere ay takild with sum luf þat draghis þaim fra godis luf.]
† 1. a. trans. To furnish (a ship) with tackle; to equip with the necessary furnishings.
Obs.| c 1400 Destr. Troy 12313 To gyffe..Tho shippes to shilde o þe shyre whaghes,..And tyrn hom to takle, & trusse for the sea. 1486 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 74 The same Ship so takled & aparailled was deliuered..to Rauf Astry. 1530 Palsgr. 752/1 My shyppe is takylled and talowed, and redy to hoyse up the sayle. 1550 Nicolls Thucyd. 5 Althoughe the shyppe be..well garnished and tacled with sayle and ballast. 1653 F. G. tr. De Scudery's Artamenes, etc. (1655) IV. vii. ii. 99 At the same time, they trimmed and tackled up a great company of Ships. 1686 J. Dunton Lett. fr. New-Eng. (1867) 26 He is a pitch'd Piece of Reason, calckt and tackl't, and only studied to dispute with Tempests. |
† b. To handle or work the tackle of a ship.
| 1513 Douglas æneis iii. ii. 119 The noyis wpsprang of mony marynair Besy at thair werk, to takilling euery tow Thair feris exhorting. 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 41 Quhen the schip vas taiklit, the master cryit, boy to the top. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 7 Scirus..gave to Theseus..another marriner to tackle the sails, who was called Phœas. a 1642 Sir W. Monson Naval Tracts ii. (1704) 253/2 There are so few Sailors to tackle their Ships, that they will be taken upon the Stays. |
† c. intr. To tack, or sail across the wind.
Obs.| 1632 Lithgow Trav. (1906) 288 Seven weekes crossed with Northerly Windes, ever Tackling and boarding from the Affricke Coast, to the Carminian shoare. 1669 in Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. ii. 20 In this unease Of Tackling Boards, we so the way make short. |
† 2. To raise or hoist with tackle.
Obs. rare.
| 1711 W. Sutherland Shipbuild. Assist. 6 A Portland..Stone, may be wrought to its exact Shape before it be tackled up on St. Paul's Church. |
3. To harness (a horse) for riding or draught. Also
absol. with
up.
| 1714 S. Sewall Diary 5 Apr. (1879) II. 432 Our Horses were forced to leap into the Sea. By that time had tackled them [it] was duskish. 1770 Mrs. E. Smith in Lett. Jas. Murray (1901) 130 Wednesday her coach and chaise was tackled for us to take an airing and see all the curiositys of Kelso. 1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsem. (1809) 7 How to chuse a horse, how to tackle him properly, in what sort of dress to ride him, how to mount and manage him. 1826 P. Pounden France & It. 7 Five untrimmed little horses, tackled to with ropes. 1869 Mrs. Stowe Old Town Folk xx, I shall jest tackle up and go over and bring them children home agin. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 93 I'll get a spare saddle and bridle, and will tackle him. |
4. colloq. a. To grip, lay hold of, take in hand, deal with; to fasten upon, attack, encounter (a person or animal) physically.
| 1828 Webster s.v., A wrestler tackles his antagonist; a dog tackles the game. This is a common popular use of the word in New England, though not elegant. 18.. Dial. Northampton, The dog tackled the sheep in the field and almost killed one. 1872 Besant & Rice Ready-Money Mort. vii, Smith's a big man; but I think I can tackle him. 1887 Jessopp Arcady ii. 58 The people seem to have been afraid to tackle them [otters]. |
b. To ‘come to grips with’, to enter into a discussion or argument with; to attack; to approach or question on some subject.
| 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge i, That John Willet was in amazing force to-night, and fit to tackle a Chief Justice. 1858 Masson Milton (1859) I. iv. 168 The Respondent having stated and expounded his theses, was then tackled by a series of Opponents. 1887 R. Buchanan Heir of Linne iii, I'll tackle the laird myself. 1901 Scotsman 13 Mar. 12/2 He too was tackled on the question, but when he explained it..he found the electors..reasonable. |
c. To grapple with, to try to deal with (a task, a difficulty, etc.); to try to solve (a problem). Also
transf.| 1847 E. FitzGerald Lett. (1889) I. 171 There was no difficulty at all in coming to the subject at once, and tackling it. 1871 L. Stephen Playgr. Eur. iv. ii. 320 Learn.. how most effectually to tackle any little difficulty that occurs. 1897 D. Hay Fleming in Bookman Jan. 118/1 Has any previous writer ever tackled a work of such difficulty and magnitude among similar surroundings? 1920 Blackw. Mag. Jan. 105/2 The sort of road that even a Ford would hesitate to tackle. |
d. To attack, fall upon, begin to eat (food).
| 1884 ‘Mark Twain’ Huck. Finn xxx. 313 So the king sneaked into the wigwam, and took to his bottle for comfort; and before long the duke tackled his bottle. 1889 J. K. Jerome Three Men in Boat xii, We tackled the cold beef for lunch. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 132 A strong man gets over it in a day or two, and tackles his bread and meat, and his work, pretty much as usual. |
e. intr. To set
to; to grapple
with something.
| 1867 Trollope Chron. Barset I. xxxii. 273 We'll tackle to? Very well; so be it. 1867 Country Wds. No. 17. 262 Tackle to't reet while yo're yung. a 1868 S. Lover (Ogilvie), The old woman..tackled to for a fight in right earnest. Mod. dial. (E.D.D.) Ah tackled wi' t' badger. |
5. (
a) In
Rugby and
N. Amer. Football, To seize and stop (an opponent) when in possession of the ball. (
b) In
Assoc. Football, To obstruct (an opponent) with the object of getting the ball away from him. (
c) In other sports, to obstruct or accost (an opponent) in order to deprive him of the ball or other object of play. Also
absol.| 1884 Daily News 23 Dec. 5/5 He..tackled well, kicked judiciously, and as captain of the team gave every satisfaction. 1891 Lock to Lock Times 24 Oct. 13/1 (Association) He now plays half-back, and is exceedingly useful in that position, tackling and kicking in great style. 1895 H. F. P. Battersby Hockey 98 In defence, they [sc. the halves] must tackle everything, and stick to it. 1897 Sportsman 16 Dec., He was tackled close to his own quarter line. 1899 Badm. Libr., Football 121 (Assoc.) Practically the best general rule is for the half-back to tackle the man with the ball, and the back to be near up ready to intercept a pass. 1901 Scotsman 11 Mar. 4/8 Those who questioned his ability to tackle..must have got a surprise when they saw the manner he dealt with his opponent. 1935 Encycl. Sports 701 The referee may also penalise a side if any of the players holds the ball under the water when tackled. 1959 M. Boyd Lacrosse Playing & Coaching vi. 70 As soon as their opponents get the ball, attack players must tackle back onto them. 1975 Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 320/2 The supporting backs and line-backers are prepared to tackle the carrier. |
† 6. (?) To enclose or fortify.
Obs. rare—1.
Perh. some error, or a different word.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. i. vi. lviii, The moralist tells us that a quadrat solid wise man should involve and tackle himself within his own vertue, and slight all accidents that are incident to man, and be still the same. |