English▸ verb [no object] descend a rock face or other near-vertical surface by using a doubled rope coiled round the body and fixed at a higher point; rappel:
team members had to abseil down sheer cliffs to reach the couple.
▸ noun a descent made by abseiling; a rappel:
a 120 ft abseil.
– ORIGIN early 20th century : from German abseilen, from ab ‘down’ + Seil ‘rope’.