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gaffle

American

[gaf-uhl] / ˈgæf əl /

verb (used with object)

gaffled, gaffling

to take hold of; seize.

verb (used without object)

gaffled, gaffling

to take as one's own (used in the phrasegaffle on to ).

I'm going to gaffle on to that last piece of pie.

Etymology

Origin of gaffle

1930–35; perhaps blend of gaff ¹ and grapple

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

gaffle

When fired it was- placed upon an iron gaffle or fork, which: the soldier carried with him, and stuck before him into the ground.

From History of the United Netherlands, 1590-92 by John Lothrop Motley

Scarcely a second did they eye one another when crack! slap! they were at it, wing and gaffle.

From The Reckoning by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023