From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tackling \Tac"kling\, n. (Naut.)
1. Furniture of the masts and yards of a vessel, as cordage,
sails, etc.
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2. Instruments of action; as, fishing tackling. --Walton.
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3. The straps and fixures adjusted to an animal, by which he
draws a carriage, or the like; harness.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Tackle \Tac"kle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tackled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Tackling.] [Cf. LG. takeln to equip. See Tackle, n.]
1. To supply with tackle. --Beau. & Fl.
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2. To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to
tackle a horse into a coach or wagon. [Colloq.]
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3. To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple; as, a wrestler
tackles his antagonist; a dog tackles the game.
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The greatest poetess of our day has wasted her time
and strength in tackling windmills under conditions
the most fitted to insure her defeat. --Dublin Univ.
Mag.
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4. (Football) To cause the ball carrier to fall to the
ground, thus ending the forward motion of the ball and the
play.
[PJC]
5. To begin to deal with; as, to tackle the problem.
[PJC]