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

So on another freezing morning during basic training, Specialist Brooks and 136 other soldiers prepared to rappel down a 40-foot-high wooden structure known as the Confidence Tower. —Sarah Diamond Christopher Lee, New York Times, 27 May 2024

Thomas' semi-truck was left hanging nearly 100 feet above the Ohio River before Bryce Carden, a firefighter who specializes in high-angle rescues, managed to rappel down to the driver's cabin and carry her to safety. —Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024

One night, that involved setting an anchor and rappelling about 15 feet to a ledge near Upper Yosemite Fall. —Alex Pulaski, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024

Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore get to work filming The Room Next Door on May 6. 80 of 120 High Times Jared Leto gets ready to rappel down the Empire State Building in New York City in preparation for one of his latest stunts. —Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 9 May 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