rap ‧ pel /ræˈpel/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle rappelled , present participle rappelling ) [intransitive] American English
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Language: French ; Origin: rappeler 'to bring back to yourself' ]
to go down a cliff or rock by sliding down a rope and touching the rock or cliff with your feet SYN abseil British English
—rappel noun [countable]