verb

abseil

to rappel

They had to abseil down the cliff face.

They had to rappel down the cliff face.

to abseil ((down sth.)) to descend something using a rope They had to abseil down the cliff face.

Synonyms: rappel (the more common term in US English)

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

Picture someone going 'absent' from the top of a cliff by 'sailing' down a rope.

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