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gaff

   Also found in: Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
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]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.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.gaffgaff - 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. VTarponear, enganchar

gaff2 [gæf] N (Brit) (= home) → casa f
gaff3 [gæf] N to blow the gaffirse 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 thatals er das sagte, war alles raus (inf); to blow the gaff on somethingetw ausquatschen (inf)
gaff [gæf] n
a. (fam) to blow the gaffspifferare un segreto
b. (Fishing) → arpione m

gaff [gæf] n
a. (fam) to blow the gaffspifferare un segreto
b. (Fishing) → arpione m


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
As I understood it, there were two ways of getting it cleared,-- first, by lowering the foresail, which was comparatively easy and without danger; and second, by climbing out the peak-halyards to the end of the gaff itself, an exceedingly hazardous performance.
From the gaff of one, two gay flags hung limply, one a checkerboard of blue and white squares, the other a white pennant centred with a red disc.
There, graceful and still, like a bird ready to spread its wings, she waited till, at the opening of the gates, a tug or two would hurry in noisily, hovering round her with an air of fuss and solicitude, and take her out into the river, tending, shepherding her through open bridges, through dam-like gates between the flat pier-heads, with a bit of green lawn surrounded by gravel and a white signal-mast with yard and gaff, flying a couple of dingy blue, red, or white flags.
 
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