gaff
pronunciation
How to pronounce gaff in British English:
UK [gæf]
How to pronounce gaff in American English:
US [ɡæf]
-
- Noun:
- a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail
- an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish
Word Origin
- gaff (n.1)
- "iron hook," c. 1300, gaffe, from Old French gaffe "boat hook" (see gaffe). Specifically of the hook on a fishing spear from 1650s. As a type of spar from 1769. Related: gaff-hook.
- gaff (n.2)
- "talk," 1812, in phrase blow the gaff "spill a secret," of uncertain origin. OED points out Old English gafspræc "blasphemous or ribald speech," and Scottish gaff "loud, rude talk" (by 1825). Compare gaffe.
- gaff (n.3)
- "cheap music hall or theater; place of amusement for the lowest classes," 1812, British slang, earlier "a fair" (1753), of unknown origin.
Example
- 1. Carl heine 's blood on his fishing gaff .
- 2. Sinking a gaff into a fish near 200 pounds or better is a much better accomplishment .
- 3. I have the gaff now , " he said . " But it will do no good . I have the two oars and the tiller and the short club .
- 4. And carl 's blood on the fishing gaff .
- 5. Don 't blow the gaff on us about putting the rat in his desk .