luff Definition
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
luff Usage Examples
Object
- crane: Medland Wharf was equipped with electric luffing cranes to handle fruit cargoes from Spain.
- match: Just accept that a europe doesn't point as high as a laser, and you will loose a luffing match.
Converse of object
keep: I never really did solve the problem of keeping the foresail luff tight on a Jack Holt roller spar - anyone else cracked it?
Modifies a noun
- tube: If you do get sand in the luff tube then hosing water through from the head of the sail will clear it.
- wire: Transmission of the torque from the lower swivel to the upper is done by means of the luff wire in the headsail.
- cringle: This ensures the luff cringle doesn't unhitch itself from the hook or line you have just put it on.
- tension: I guess shrouds, lowers, jib luff tension.
Modifying Another Word
n't: The kite does n't luff, proven to be ideal for beginners and advanced riders!
Noun used with modifier
jib: A useful side effect is that they can be used to increase the tension in a jib luff.
Preposition: of
sail: The knuckles in each batten are at 20 % and 50 % aft from the luff of the sail.
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