luff

[ luhf ]

/ lʌf /

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noun Nautical.

the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

verb (used without object)

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.

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)

to set (the helm of a ship) in such a way as to bring the head of the ship into the wind.

to raise or lower the outer end of (the boom of a crane or derrick).

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Origin of luff

1175–1225; Middle English lof, loof steering gear (compare Old French lof) <Middle Dutch (unrecorded), later Dutch loef tholepin (of tiller)

OTHER WORDS FROM luff

un·luffed, adjective

Words nearby luff

Luebke, Luella, Luening, lues, luetic, luff, luffa, luff on luff, luff tackle, Lufkin, Luftwaffe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use luff in a sentence

The bowlines on the luff of the gaff topsails should be particularly noticed as a feature of this period.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
The second shot from the latter was well directed; it grazed our mast and carried away the luff of the mainsail.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
“If we could but knock away her foremast, we should still have time to luff round ahead of her,” cried Captain Tracy.
The Missing Ship|W. H. G. Kingston
I sprang down the ladder on to the main-deck, and there found the first luff superintending the working of our heavy guns.
A Middy of the King|Harry Collingwood

He had to luff a little to keep clear of the oars, but he did not move from his half-recumbent posture.
Within The Enemy's Lines|Oliver Optic

British Dictionary definitions for luff

luff

/ (lʌf) /

noun

nautical the leading edge of a fore-and-aft sail

noun

tackle consisting of a single and a double block for use with rope having a large diameter

verb

nautical to head (a sailing vessel) into the wind so that her sails flap

(intr) nautical (of a sail) to flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides

to move the jib of (a crane) or raise or lower the boom of (a derrick) in order to shift a load

Word Origin for luff

C13 (in the sense: steering gear): from Old French lof, perhaps from Middle Dutch loef peg of a tiller; compare Old High German laffa palm of hand, oar blade, Russian lapa paw

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