GRAPE

grape, the fruit of the vine (q.v.). the word is adopted from the o. fr. _grape_, mod. _grappe_, bunch or cluster of flowers or fruit, _grappes de raisin_, bunch of grapes. the french word meant properly a hook; cf. m.h.g. _krapfe_, eng. "grapnel," and "cramp." the development of meaning seems to be vine-hook, cluster of grapes cut with a hook, and thence in english a single grape of a cluster. the projectile called "grape" or "grape-shot," formerly used with smooth-bore ordnance, took its name from its general resemblance to a bunch of grapes. it consisted of a number of spherical bullets (heavier than those of the contemporary musket) arranged in layers separated by thin iron plates, a 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 fashion of case-shot.