tackling
tackling
UK[ˈtæklɪŋ]US[ˈtæklɪŋ]
v
The present participle or gerund of 'tackle', meaning to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or task.
v
The present participle or gerund of 'tackle', meaning to confront or challenge someone, especially in a physical or sporting context such as football or rugby.
Morpheme Breakdown
tackl
ing
tackl
grasp/seize
ing
present participle suffix
Etymology
The word 'tackling' originates from the nautical term 'tackle', which referred to the apparatus of ropes and pulleys on a ship used for hoisting or controlling sails. This equipment sense, borrowed from Middle Dutch, evolved into a verb meaning to harness or seize with equipment. By the 14th century, it broadened to mean undertaking a task or grappling with a problem. The modern senses—both the physical act of seizing an opponent in sports and the metaphorical act of confronting a challenge—stem from this core idea of taking hold and engaging directly with an object or difficulty.
Analysis
Structure: tackl (grasp/seize) + ing (present participle suffix)
- tackl: A variant of the root 'tackle', derived from Middle English takel, meaning equipment or gear, and further from Middle Dutch takel, meaning the rigging of a ship. Its functional role is as the verbal base meaning to grasp, seize, or undertake.
- ing: A suffix from Old English -ende (present participle) and -ung (verbal noun), denoting the action or state of the verb.
Examples
The government is tackling the issue of climate change with new legislation.
He was shown a yellow card for tackling the opponent from behind.
She spent the afternoon tackling the pile of paperwork on her desk.