ahold
v. C2 Proficiency US //əˈhoʊɫd// ahold
v. to hold or grasp something tightly. You use this when you need to keep a firm grip on something, like a rope or a handle.
v. to grasp or hold something firmly. Often used in nautical or informal contexts to describe maintaining a secure grip on a physical object.
He had to ahold of the rope to keep from falling.
The sailor had to ahold of the mast as the storm picked up speed and the boat rocked violently.
In the high winds of the open sea, the crew had to ahold of their positions to prevent the heavy sails from being torn away by the gusts.