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Gaff
Definitions
- 1 A surname.
- 1 A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.
"When Leonard finally hauls up a cod of seventy-five centimeters, probably seven years old, a typical catch ten years ago, they all joke, "Oh my God, get the gaff!""
- 2 Rough or harsh treatment; criticism.
""Numbers one, two, and five engines have broken down, sir," he called. "Shall we force the remaining three?" / "We can do nothing else," I bellowed into the transmitter. / "They won't stand the gaff, sir," he returned. / "Can you suggest a better plan?" I asked. / "No, sir," he replied. / "Then give them the gaff, lieutenant," I shouted back, and hung up the receiver."
- 3 A place of residence. Ireland, UK, slang
"We're going round to Mike's gaff later to watch the footie."
- 4 Clipping of gaffer tape. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal, uncountable
"She bought a roll of black gaff to tape down the loose cords."
- 5 an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish wordnet
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe.
"We politely ignored his gaff."
- 7 An outcry; nonsense. dated
- 8 A disreputable, low-end theatre. UK, dated, slang
"Significantly, the setting is a gaff, a low, illegal theatre, and not one of the legitimate East-End stages."
- 9 a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail wordnet
- 10 A trick or con.
"The sideshow feat was just a gaff, but the audience was too proud to admit they'd been fooled."
- 11 a sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecock wordnet
- 12 The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
- 13 A type of tight, panty-like underwear worn to hold the penis and testicles tucked backwards and make one's genital region look smooth, as if one had a vulva.
"This may sound strange to readers who know little about nudes but many female impersonators, or femme-mimics, work au naturel—except for a gaff, a bra, body makeup, jewelry, and a wig (on their head). See! Semi-nude!!"
- 1 To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.
"I stepped out and advanced valiantly upon a long-maned bull in the midst of his wives. I was armed with the regular club with which the boat-pullers killed the wounded seals gaffed aboard by the hunters."
- 2 To cheat or hoax.
- 3 To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes. transitive
"When the operator began losing, he gaffed the wheel and then the patron had no chance to win. With his secret device an experienced grifter could stop the wheel at will on any number."
- 4 To gamble, especially by tossing coins. obsolete, slang
- 5 To affix gaffer tape to, or cover with gaffer tape. informal, transitive
"I gaffed down the sleeves to my lens hoods instead of just relying on the drawstring to hold it in place."
Etymology
From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1 sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.
From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1 sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.
Perhaps from Old English gafsprǣc (“buffoonery, scurrility; blasphemous or ribald speech”), from Old English gaf (“base, vile, lewd”) + Old English sprǣc (“language, speech, talk”). Compare Old English gaffetung, gafettung (“scoffing, mockery, derision”).
Unknown. Possibly from Etymology 1, via a sense of “a place that will be robbed” in criminal argot; possibly from Etymology 2, via a sense of "cheap theatre"; possibly from Romani gav (“village”) (whence German Kaff (“village”)).
See also for "gaff"
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