luff
luff (luf)
noun
- the act of sailing close or closer to the wind
- the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail
Etymology: ME lof < ODu loef, weather side (of a ship), auxiliary oar for steering, akin to ON lōfi, palm of the hand < IE base *lēp-, *lōp-, flat object, flat hand > OHG lappo, flat hand, rudder blade, Russ lopata, a shovel, rudder blade
intransitive verb
- to turn the bow of a ship toward the wind; sail close or closer to the wind
- to flutter: said of a sail, as on a boat that is heading too close to the wind
- to raise or lower the jib of a crane
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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