abseil

English

Etymology

From German abseilen, from ab- (“down”) + Seil (“rope”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæb.seɪl/, /ˈæb.saɪl/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑpˌzaɪl/, /ˈɑpˌzaɪ.l̩/, /ˈɑbˌzaɪl/, /ˈæb.seɪl/

Verb

abseil (third-person singular simple present abseils, present participle abseiling, simple past and past participle abseiled)

1. (intransitive) To descend a steep or vertical drop using a rope with a mechanical friction device or (classic abseil) by wrapping the rope around the body; to rappel. [First attested in the mid 20th century.]
   • 2020 September 9, Paul Clifton, “Heavy rainfall causes landslip in Hampshire”, in Rail, page 11:

     Although only five miles north of Winchester, the tunnel is in a rural location with no road access. Contractors were only able to reach the site after cutting through thick vegetation and abseiling down the slope on ropes.

Synonyms

• rappel

Derived terms

• abseiler

Translations

to descend a vertical drop using a rope

• Dutch: abseilen (nl)
• French: descendre en rappel
• German: abseilen (de)
• Macedonian: се спушта со јаже (se spušta so jaže)
• Malay: menakik turun, مناکيق تورون (menakik turun)
• Portuguese: rapelar
• Russian: спускаться на верёвке
• Ukrainian: спускатися по мотузці (spuskatysja po motuzci)

Noun

abseil (plural abseils)

1. A descent in mountaineering using a rope looped at the top and a friction device. [First attested in the mid 20th century.]

Synonyms

• rappel

Translations

a descent by abseil

• Dutch: het abseilen, gezekerde afdaling
• German: Abseilen (de) n
• Macedonian: спуштање со јаже n (spuštanje so jaže)
• Malay: takik turun, turun cenuram
• Portuguese: rapel (pt) m

Anagrams

• balise, Blaise, Leibas, isabel, bailes, lebais, Isabel, Bailes, besail