gaff
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gaff
a metal hook fastened to a pole; to cheat; fleece; harsh treatment or criticism: All the gaff he had to take made him even more reclusive.
Not to be confused with:
gaffe – a social blunder; faux pas: His sudden outburst of anger was an unfortunate gaffe.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
gaff 1
(găf)n.
1. A large iron hook attached to a pole or handle and used to land large fish.
2. Nautical A spar attached to a mast and used to extend the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail.
3.
a. A sharp metal spur or spike fastened to the leg of a gamecock.
b. A climbing hook used by telephone and electric line workers.
4. Slang A trick or gimmick, especially one used in a swindle or to rig a game.
5. A tight-fitting undergarment designed to secure the male genitals between the legs and create the appearance of a smooth crotch.
6. Slang Harshness of treatment; abuse.
tr.v. gaffed, gaf·fing, gaffs
1. To hook or land (a fish) using a gaff.
2. To equip (a gamecock) with a gaff.
3. Slang
a. To take in or defraud; swindle.
b. To rig or fix in order to cheat: knew that the carnival games had been gaffed.
[Middle English gaffe, from Old French, from Old Provençal gaf, from gafar, to seize, of Germanic origin; see kap- in Indo-European roots. Noun, senses 4 and 5, and verb, senses 3a and 3b, probably from the spurred, ink-filled rings used by card sharpers to secretly mark cards.]
gaff 2
(găf)n. Chiefly British
1. A public place of entertainment, especially a cheap or disreputable music hall or theater.
2. Slang A house, building, or apartment, especially where one resides.
[Origin unknown.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gaff
(ɡæf)n
1. (Angling) angling a stiff pole with a stout prong or hook attached for landing large fish
2. (Nautical Terms) nautical a boom hoisted aft of a mast to support a gaffsail
3. (Individual Sports, other than specified) a metal spur fixed to the leg of a gamecock
vb (tr)
4. (Angling) angling to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff
5. slang to cheat; hoax
[C13: from French gaffe, from Provençal gaf boathook]
gaff
(ɡæf)n
1. slang foolish talk; nonsense
2. blow the gaff slang Brit to divulge a secret
3. stand the gaff slang chiefly US and Canadian to endure ridicule, difficulties, etc
[C19: of unknown origin]
gaff
(ɡæf)n
1. a person's home, esp a flat
2. Also called: penny-gaff a cheap or low-class place of entertainment, esp a cheap theatre or music hall in Victorian England
[C18: of unknown origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
gaff1
(gæf)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. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a fore-and-aft sail.
4. a metal spur for a gamecock.
v.t. 5. to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff.
[1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French gaffe, gaff]
gaff2
(gæf)n.
Informal. harsh treatment, criticism, or ridicule (used esp. in the phrase stand the gaff).
[1895–1900, Amer.]
gaff3
(gæf)v.t.
Slang. to cheat; fleece.
[1745–55]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
gaff
Past participle: gaffed
Gerund: gaffing
| Imperative |
|---|
| gaff |
| gaff |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | gaff - a sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecock spike - each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves); "the second baseman sharpened his spikes before every game"; "golfers' spikes damage the putting greens" |
| 2. |  gaff - a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sailsailing ship, sailing vessel - a vessel that is powered by the wind; often having several masts spar - a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging | |
| 3. | gaff - an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish hook - a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
gaff
1 [gæf]gaff
2 [gæf] N (Brit) (= home) → casa fgaff
3 [gæf] N to blow the gaff → irse de la lengua, descubrir el pastelCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
gaff
1n
(Fishing) → Landungshaken m, → Gaff nt
(Naut) → Gaffel f
gaff
2n to blow the gaff (inf) → nicht dichthalten (inf); he blew the gaff by saying that → als er das sagte, war alles raus (inf); to blow the gaff on something → etw ausquatschen (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995