gaff
1an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish.
the spur on a climbing iron, especially as used by telephone linemen.
Nautical. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail (gaff sail, orgaff-headed sail ).
a metal spur for a gamecock.
to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff.
Origin of gaff
1Words that may be confused with gaff
- gaff , gaffe
Words Nearby gaff
Other definitions for gaff (2 of 3)
harsh treatment or criticism (usually used in the phrase stand/take the gaff): All the gaff he took never made him bitter.You shouldn't be in show biz if you can't stand the gaff.
Origin of gaff
2Other definitions for gaff (3 of 3)
Slang. to cheat; fleece.
British Slang. to gamble, especially to indulge in petty gambling, as to toss coins.
Origin of gaff
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use gaff in a sentence
After an embarrassing administrative gaff, a few zany candidates, and nationwide anticipation, New York City’s final vote tally for the mayoral primaries is in.
New York's Mayoral Race Shows that Ranked Choice Voting Works—Even With Snafus | Kevin Kosar and Elayne Allen | July 10, 2021 | TimeMeanwhile, on the other end, US Airways seems genuinely confused by their gaff.
Plane-Related Incidents Reach New Level of Weird | Rachel Hochhauser | April 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIf with the Vice-Admiral he will hoist a white flag at the end of the gaff or derrick, and fire two guns.
Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.When he would have the fleet come to an anchor, he will show double Dutch colours at the end of his gaff and fire a gun.
Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.The bowlines on the luff of the gaff topsails should be particularly noticed as a feature of this period.
Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.
Unfortunately 'Meteor' and 'Iverna' were not competing, the former having damaged her gaff.
Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.We've picked up a guy out of an ice gang that's willin' to stand th' gaff, but we need another one.
The White Desert | Courtney Ryley Cooper
British Dictionary definitions for gaff (1 of 3)
/ (ɡæf) /
angling a stiff pole with a stout prong or hook attached for landing large fish
nautical a boom hoisted aft of a mast to support a gaffsail
a metal spur fixed to the leg of a gamecock
angling to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff
slang to cheat; hoax
Origin of gaff
1British Dictionary definitions for gaff (2 of 3)
/ (ɡæf) /
slang foolish talk; nonsense
blow the gaff British slang to divulge a secret
stand the gaff slang, mainly US and Canadian to endure ridicule, difficulties, etc
Origin of gaff
2British Dictionary definitions for gaff (3 of 3)
/ (ɡæf) /
a person's home, esp a flat
Also called: penny-gaff a cheap or low-class place of entertainment, esp a cheap theatre or music hall in Victorian England
Origin of gaff
3Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with gaff
see stand the gaff.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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