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

Examples of rappel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The third person, with the assistance of Zion's search-and-rescue team, rappelled down the canyon and reached the ground safely at around 2 p.m. Sunday, the NPS said. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2024

While rappelling down the buttress late on Saturday, Manners and Dvorak saw a four-person team of climbers on the glacier. —Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024

Virginia National Guardsmen rappelling out of Black Hawk helicopters into rushing waters, pulling people out of cars. —Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Oct. 2024

On Sunday, shortly before 8 p.m., Stewart Phillip Porter from Eau Claire was rappelling the second pitch of El Cracko Diablo on Devils Tower and went careening downward, according to the National Park Service. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2024

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 also rappeled; rappelling also rappeling

: to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope