gaff

gaff
gaff
gaff1 [gaf]
n.
[ME gaffe < OFr < OProv gaf or Sp gafa < Goth gafah, a catch < ga-, intens. + fahan, to catch, akin to FANG]
1. a large, strong hook on a pole, or a barbed spear, used in landing large fish
2.
a) a sharp metal spur fastened to the leg of a gamecock
b) any of the steel points on a lineman's climbing iron
3.
a) a spar or pole extending from the after side of a mast and supporting a fore-and-aft sail
b) U.S. Navy a similarly located spar on the mainmast, from which the ensign is flown when a ship is underway
4. Slang any secret device for cheatingany secret device for cheating
5. [earlier in sense of “a fair”: ? because visitors were gaffed there] [Brit. Slang] Brit. Slang a cheap theater, dance hall, etc.
vt.
1. to strike or land (a fish) with a gaff
2. [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] to cheat; hoax; trick
3. Naut. Slang to rig with a gaff
——————
☆ stand the gaff
Slang to bear up well under difficulties, punishment, ridicule, etc.; be game
gaff2 [gaf]
n.
[prob. altered < earlier gab, mockery < ME, deceit: see GAB] [Brit. Slang] foolish talk; nonsense
——————
blow the gaff [Brit. Slang]
to reveal a secret

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gaff — may refer to:Utensils: * Gaff (fishing), hooked pole * Gaff, artificial spurs used, in some regions, in cockfighting * Gaff, club like Norwegian seal hunting hakapik * Gaff, pole used on gaff rigged sailboats Other: * Gaff, fictional character in …   Wikipedia

  • Gaff — Gaff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gaffed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Gaffing}.] To strike with a gaff or barbed spear; to secure by means of a gaff; as, to gaff a salmon. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gaff — gaff·kya; gaff·sail; shan·dy·gaff; gaff; giff·gaff; …   English syllables

  • gaff — Ⅰ. gaff [1] ► NOUN 1) a stick with a hook or barbed spear, for landing large fish. 2) Sailing a spar to which the head of a fore and aft sail is bent. ► VERB ▪ seize or impale (a fish) with a gaff. ORIGIN Provençal gaf hook ; related to GAFFE …   English terms dictionary

  • Gaff — zum Hochseeangeln, Länge 115 cm Das Gaff ist ein Haken an einem langen Stiel, mit dem große Fische aus dem Wasser gehoben werden. Das Gaff wird vor allem beim Hochseeangeln und beim Eisangeln eingesetzt, wenn der Fisch zu groß und schwer für… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Gaff — (g[a^]f), n. [OE. gaffe, F. gaffe an iron hook with which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf. Ir. gaf, gafa hook; perh. akin to G. gabel fork, Skr. gabhasti. Cf. {Gaffle}, {Gable}.] 1. A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gaff — [gæf] n [Date: 1300 1400; : French; Origin: gaffe, from Provençal gaf] 1.) BrE informal the place where someone lives ▪ a wretched dirty gaff 2.) a stick with a hook at the end, used to pull big fish out of the water …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • gaff — [ gæf ] noun count a pole with a hook on the end, used for pulling large fish out of water …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • gaff — gaff1 /gaf/, n. 1. an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish. 2. the spur on a climbing iron, esp. as used by telephone linemen. 3. Naut. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore and aft sail (gaff sail).… …   Universalium

  • gaff — I [[t]gæf[/t]] n. 1) an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish 2) tgp the spur on a climbing iron, esp. as used by telephone linemen 3) naut. navig. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a fore and aft sail 4) a metal spur… …   From formal English to slang

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