rappel

/rəˈpɛl/

/rəˈpɛl/

Other forms: rappelling; rappelled; rappeling

When rock climbers rappel, they lower themselves down the side of a wall or mountain. To rappel safely, a climber uses special anchors and climbing ropes, as well as the help of another person.

Descending is the riskiest part of mountaineering, so many climbers rappel instead of simply climbing down using hand- and footholds. Various tools and equipment can help a climber rappel even more safely, but the most important one is a good rope that's securely anchored. The French rappel literally means "recall." Some English speakers use the term abseil instead.

Definitions of rappel

1. verb

   lower oneself with a rope coiled around the body from a mountainside
   synonyms: abseil, rope down

   type of:

   come down, descend, fall, go down

   move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
2. noun

   (mountaineering) a descent of a vertical cliff or wall made by using a doubled rope that is fixed to a higher point and wrapped around the body
   synonyms: abseil

   type of:

   descent

   the act of changing your location in a downward direction