luff
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
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to bring the head of a sailing ship closer to or directly into the wind, with sails shaking.
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(of a sail) to shake from being set too close to the wind.
The sail luffed as we put about for port.
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to raise or lower the outer end of the boom of a crane or derrick so as to move its load horizontally.
verb (used with object)
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to set (the helm of a ship) in such a way as to bring the head of the ship into the wind.
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to raise or lower the outer end of (the boom of a crane or derrick).
noun
noun
verb
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nautical to head (a sailing vessel) into the wind so that her sails flap
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(intr) nautical (of a sail) to flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides
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to move the jib of (a crane) or raise or lower the boom of (a derrick) in order to shift a load
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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luffsimple
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luffssimple
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have luffedperfect
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has luffedperfect
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am luffingprogressive
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are luffingprogressive
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is luffingprogressive
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have been luffingperfect progressive
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has been luffingperfect progressive
Past
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luffedsimple
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had luffedperfect
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was luffingprogressive
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were luffingprogressive
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had been luffingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of luff
1175–1225; Middle English lof, loof steering gear (compare Old French lof ) < Middle Dutch (unrecorded), later Dutch loef tholepin (of tiller)
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:
Spithill, typically combative, tried to luff Team New Zealand at the start of the first beat but the Kiwis crossed his bow and the move cost the Italian boat the lead which New Zealand retained.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 10, 2021
“Love is too weak a word for what I feel — I luuurve you, you know, I loave you, I luff you, two F’s, yes.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2021
In particular, try the scene in which Herzog, casting aside all inhibition, exclaims, in his matchless tones, “We luff you. I luff you.”
From The New Yorker ● May 3, 2019
The sails luff, I’ve gone off course and look skywards for the Plough – I’m using stars, rather than compass for my bearings.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 4, 2018
“Or a luff from a leech,” bellowed the man.
From "Stuart Little" by E.B. White
"Up with those sails!" cried the girl now, and Caliban's gang sweated at the halyards, while slackened sheets permitted the booms to swing and present the luffs to the screaming gale, bearing no resistance.
From The Pirate Woman by Dingle, Aylward Edward
A winch used in rope-making.—Loof-tackle hooks, termed luffs.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
The next time they came out, we would notice their sticks cut down, their booms shortened, and their after-leeches nearer the luffs by whole cloths.
From A Collection of Stories by London, Jack
Closer yet she brought the graceful craft; closer, until the luffs trembled and the seas burst fair upon the stem and volleyed stinging spray the full length of her.
From The Pirate Woman by Dingle, Aylward Edward
"Aye, you young luffs, Griffin, are never backward with your vows for or to pretty girls," answered Cuffe.
From The Wing-and-Wing Le Feu-Follet by Cooper, James Fenimore
The canvas luffed a bit, then pulled tight.
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2023
Waves luffed and spat in my face or carried me up on swells like the exhalations of a great and gentle giant.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 23, 2021
The Italian team again was early into the box but offset that penalty when it gained right of way and luffed its rival.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 18, 2020
Both sails luffed in the night breeze, which was still light and spotty because of the surrounding hills.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
Eril-Fane held up his arm, and the bird spiraled an elegant descent, luffed into the wind, and landed.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Under Mr. Horvath’s direction, Ms. Dowd raised the luffing sail, using a winch to pull the line tight and then secure it.
From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2021
Somewhere along the U.S. line, as Enterprise begat Courageous begat Freedom begat Liberty, revolutionary breakthroughs had been luffing.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the first photo that you showed, the gun has already gone and Gretel is clearly luffing.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the second photo she is luffing even farther.
From Time Magazine Archive
Now the boat was all noise, with wind luffing die sails and the boom slamming back and forth and the sails popping, ropes whipping and clacking, and the halyards slapping against the mast: whap, whap.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
