Definitions for gaff

• Definition
• Anagrams (13)

gaff gaff

Spelling: [gaf]

IPA: /gæf/

Gaff is a 4 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 11 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 12 points.

You can make 13 anagrams from letters in gaff (affg).

Definitions for gaff

noun

1. an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish.
2. the spur on a climbing iron, especially as used by telephone linemen.
3. Nautical. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail (gaff sail)
4. a metal spur for a gamecock.
5. harsh treatment or criticism:

Idioms

1. stand / take the gaff, Slang. to weather hardship or strain; endure patiently.

verb (used with object)

1. to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff.
2. Slang. to cheat; fleece.

verb (used without object)

1. British Slang. to gamble, especially to indulge in petty gambling, as to toss coins.

Origin of gaff

1275-1325; Middle English Middle French gaffe, gaff Provençal gaf hook, gaff, noun derivative of gafar to seize (compare Medieval Latin gaffare), probably Germanic (Visigothic) *gaff-, perhap

Examples for gaff

Used aboard yachts for bending on the gaff topsail halliards.

The captain got his glass, and climbed up to the gaff of the foresail.

When Dan lunged with the gaff the tuna made a tremendous splash that deluged us.

Billy,” the skipper ordered, “get forward with a gaff and keep him off.

In an hour and five minutes I brought him to gaff—a small fish.

Only the whole sail, gaff, boom and all, was not very large.

Meanwhile, on the other end, US Airways seems genuinely confused by their gaff.

A mainsail carried by a gaff has two halyards, the throat and peak.

But like all so-called ladders, they could not stand the gaff.

I'll take the gaff rather than have it said about me that I've lain down on a job.