First Known Use: 1944
Dictionary
rappel
verb rap·pel \rə-ˈpel, ra-\
: to move down a steep cliff, rock, etc., by pushing your feet against its surface and sliding down a rope
rap·pelled also rap·peledrap·pel·ling also rap·pel·ing
Full Definition of RAPPEL
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
See rappel defined for English-language learners
See rappel defined for kids
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Origin of RAPPEL
French, literally, recall, from Old French rapel, from rapeler to recall, from re- + apeler to appeal, call — more at appeal
Rhymes with RAPPEL
band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell
RAPPEL Defined for Kids
rappel
verb rap·pel \rə-ˈpel, ra-\
rappelledrappelling
Definition of RAPPEL for Kids
: to move down a steep slope (as a cliff) by pushing the feet against its surface and sliding down a rope
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