A Prusik (aka Prussik or Prussic) is a friction hitch use in climbing, canyoneering, mountaineering, caving, rope rescue and by arborists to grab a rope (sometimes referred to as a rope-grab). The term Prusik is used both for the knot, for the loops of cord, and for the action (to prusik). More casually, the term is used for any friction hitch that can grab a rope.