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GRAPE

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Originally appearing in Volume V12, Page 364 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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GRAPE , the See also:

fruit of the See also:vine (q.v.). The word is adopted from the O. Fr. grape, mod. grappe, bunch or cluster of See also:flowers or fruit, grappes de See also:raisin, bunch of grapes. The See also:French word meant properly a See also:hook; cf. M.H.G. krapfe, Eng. " grapnel," and " See also:cramp." The development of meaning seems to be vine-hook, cluster of grapes cut with a hook, and thence in See also:English a single grape of a cluster. The projectile called " grape " or " grape-shot," formerly used with smooth-See also:bore See also:ordnance, took its name from its See also:general resemblance to a bunch of grapes. It consisted of a number of spherical bullets (heavier than those of the See also:con-temporary See also:musket) arranged in layers separated by thin See also:iron plates, a See also:bolt passing through the centre of the plates binding the whole together. On being discharged the projectile delivered the bullets in a shower somewhat after the See also:fashion of See also:case-shot.

End of Article: GRAPE

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