tackle

n. [ OE. takel, akin to LG. & D. takel, Dan. takkel, Sw. tackel; perhaps akin to E. taw, v. t., or to take. ] 1. Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes, the rope and attachments, as distinct from the block, in which case the full appratus is referred to as a block and tackle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In Chaucer, it denotes usually an arrow or arrows. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any purchase where more than one block is used. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fall and tackle. See the Note under Pulley. --
Fishing tackle. See under Fishing, a. --
Ground tackle (Naut.), anchors, cables, etc. --
Gun tackle, the apparatus or appliances for hauling cannon in or out. --
Tackle fall, the rope, or rather the end of the rope, of a tackle, to which the power is applied. --
Tack tackle (Naut.), a small tackle to pull down the tacks of the principal sails. --
Tackle board,
Tackle post (Ropemaking), a board, frame, or post, at the end of a ropewalk, for supporting the spindels, or whirls, for twisting the yarns. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tackled p. pr. & vb. n. Tackling. ] [ Cf. LG. takeln to equip. See Tackle, n. ] 1. To supply with tackle. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to tackle a horse into a coach or wagon. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple; as, a wrestler tackles his antagonist; a dog tackles the game. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Football) To cause the ball carrier to fall to the ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball and the play. [ PJC ]

5. To begin to deal with; as, to tackle the problem. [ PJC ]

n. (Football) 1. An act of tackling{ 4 }; as, brought down by a tackle by a lineman. [ PJC ]

2. (Football) One of two linemen on a football team, occupying a position between the guard and an end; also, the position played by such a tackle. [ PJC ]