gaff

gaff ¹  (gf)

n.

1. A large iron hook attached to a pole or handle and used to land large fish.

2. Nautical A spar attached to the 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. 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.]

---

gaff ²  (gf)

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.]

---

gaff ³  (gf)

n.

Variant of gaffe.

---

gaff¹

n

1. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Angling) Angling a stiff pole with a stout prong or hook attached for landing large fish

2. (Transport / 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)

1. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Angling) Angling to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff

2. Slang to cheat; hoax

[from French gaffe, from Provençal gaf boathook]

---

gaff²

n

1. Slang foolish talk; nonsense

blow the gaff Brit slang to divulge a secret

stand the gaff Slang chiefly US and Canadian to endure ridicule, difficulties, etc.

[of unknown origin]

---

gaff³

n Brit slang archaic

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

[of unknown origin]

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 sail sailing 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 fishing gear, fishing rig, fishing tackle, tackle, rig - gear used in fishing hook - a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something

Translations

gaff¹ [gæf]

A. N (Fishing) (= harpoon) → arpón m, garfio m

B. VT → arponear, enganchar

---

gaff² [gæf] N (Brit) (= home) → casa f

---

gaff³ [gæf] N to blow the gaff → irse de la lengua, descubrir el pastel

gaff [ˈgæf] n

[boat] → espar m, corne f

(= pole) → gaffe f

see also gaffe

gaff¹

n

(Fishing) → Landungshaken m, → Gaff nt

(Naut) → Gaffel f

vt (Fishing) → mit dem (Landungs)haken or Gaff an Land ziehen

---

gaff²

n 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)

gaff [gæf] n

a. (fam) to blow the gaff → spifferare un segreto

b. (Fishing) → arpione m