haaf

American

[hahf] / hɑf /

noun

deep-sea fishing grounds off the Shetland and Orkney Islands.

haaf British

/ hɑːf /

noun

a deep-sea fishing ground off the Shetland and Orkney Islands

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of haaf

1785–95; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse haf sea; cognate with Old English hæf; akin to heave

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.

There are currently about 30 haaf netters still using this traditional method.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2020

But he is worried the practice could soon die out unless the haaf netters are given some legal protection and some form of exemption to a ban on keeping the salmon that they catch.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2020

John Warwick, who has been using the method since the 1970s, is part of the small community of haaf netters.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2020

John Warwick said they hoped this would create more interest in haaf netting and attract some younger blood which could help secure its future.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2020

Almost their only profitable fishing is in the summer months; and it seems to be certain that the haaf fishing could not be successfully prosecuted in winter with the present open boats.

From Second Shetland Truck System Report by Guthrie, William

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