luff
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
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luffs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
luffed,
past participle, past
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luffing
present participle
-
to bring the head of a sailing ship closer to or directly into the wind, with sails shaking.
-
(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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luffs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
luffed,
past participle, past
-
luffing
present participle
-
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
-
has luffedperfect
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am luffingprogressive
-
are luffingprogressive
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is luffingprogressive
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have been luffingperfect progressive
-
has been luffingperfect progressive
Past
-
luffedsimple
-
had luffedperfect
-
was luffingprogressive
-
were luffingprogressive
-
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
"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 James Fenimore Cooper
I've fed ye both with all such articles, when ye was nothing but young gentlemen; and when you was no longer young gentlemen, too, but a couple of sprightly luffs, of nineteen.
From The Two Admirals by James Fenimore Cooper
Sometimes she luffs up, and sometimes she falls off; so as to holding a steady course, I find that out of the question.
From Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships A Story of the Last Naval War by T. Hoggans
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 Jack London
I luffs up alongside o' this dry land bo'sum an' punches once.
From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Gordon Grant
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
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
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
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
In the first photo that you showed, the gun has already gone and Gretel is clearly luffing.
From Time Magazine Archive
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 second photo she is luffing even farther.
From Time Magazine Archive
Black hold, the detonations fierce, floor puddled with wet sick; heaving; victory blotched by fog and rain, the wind meddling, ships luffing, stoving up as if careened; and I below.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
