Gaff meaning

găf
A trick or gimmick, especially one used in a swindle or to rig a game.
noun
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The definition of a gaff is a pole with a hook.

A stick with a spear on the end that you use to catch a fish by thrusting it down quickly into the fish is an example of a gaff.

noun
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To gaff is defined as to capture or impale using a stick with a hook or spear on the end.

When you stab and catch a fish using a stick with a spear on the end, this is an example of when you gaff the fish.

verb
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A large iron hook attached to a pole or handle and used to land large fish.
noun
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A spar attached to the mast and used to extend the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail.
noun
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To take in or defraud; swindle.
verb
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To rig or fix in order to cheat.

Knew that the carnival games had been gaffed.

verb
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Any secret device for cheating.
noun
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To cheat; hoax; trick.
verb
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To rig with a gaff.
verb
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A trick or con.

The sideshow feat was a just a gaff, but the audience was too proud to admit they'd been fooled.

noun
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Harshness of treatment; abuse.
noun
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A sharp metal spur or spike fastened to the leg of a gamecock.
noun
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A climbing hook used by telephone and electric line workers.
noun
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To hook or land (a fish) using a gaff.
verb
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To equip (a gamecock) with a gaff.
verb
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A public place of entertainment, especially a cheap or disreputable music hall or theater.
noun
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A house, building, or apartment, especially where one resides.
noun
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A large, strong hook on a pole, or a barbed spear, used in landing large fish.
noun
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A cheap theater, dance hall, etc.
noun
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A sharp metal spur fastened to the leg of a gamecock.
noun
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Any of the steel points on a lineman's climbing iron.
noun
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A spar or pole extending from the after side of a mast and supporting a fore-and-aft sail.
noun
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A similarly located spar on the mainmast, from which the ensign is flown when a ship is underway.
noun
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To strike or land (a fish) with a gaff.
verb
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Foolish talk; nonsense.
noun
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A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.
noun
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A minor error or faux pas.

We politely ignored his gaff.

noun
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(UK, slang) A place of residence.

We're going round to Mike's gaff later to watch the footie.

noun
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(nautical) The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
noun
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A garment worn to hide the genitals by male transvestites.
noun
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To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.
verb
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To cheat or hoax.
verb
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Rough or harsh treatment; criticism.

1916, Edgar Rice Burrows, Beyond Thirty (aka The Lost Continent), edition HTML, The Gutenberg Project, published 2008:"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.

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Origin of gaff

Perhaps from Old English gafsprǣc (“buffoonery, scurrility; blasphemous or ribald speech”), from Old English gaf (“base, vile, lewd”) + Old English sprǣc (“language, speech, talk”)

Sentence Examples

  • The next page deals with what tools are needed to make the gaff.

  • Their secular work, however, appears to have been more valuable to Theodore than their preaching, so that he employed them as workmen to himself, and established them at Gaff at, near his capital.

  • Everyone to the usual gaff on Tuesday, 15th August.

  • gaff cutter or sloop, there is a need to balance the large area of the main by a corresponding area forward.

  • Not seen yet by anyone except our tame madman Garth, we blow the gaff!

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Related articles

Words near gaff in the Dictionary