To struggle or grapple; to wrestle or engage in close combat or difficult struggle.
Possibly a variant or dialectal form related to 'grapple' (to seize and hold, from Old Norse 'grópr,' a grasping hook). The '-ple' ending suggests a connection to wrestling or physical struggle.
Words like 'gropple' and 'grapple' likely come from a common Germanic root, and they sound similar because they describe similar physical actions—the sounds of words actually echo their meanings in wrestling and combat!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.