gaff

gaff

a metal hook fastened to a pole; to cheat; fleece; harsh treatment or criticism: All the gaff he had to take made him even more reclusive.

Not to be confused with:

gaffe – a social blunder; faux pas: His sudden outburst of anger was an unfortunate gaffe.

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

gaff¹

gaff ¹

 (găf)

n.

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

2. Nautical A spar attached to a 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. A tight-fitting undergarment designed to secure the male genitals between the legs and create the appearance of a smooth crotch.

6. 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. Noun, senses 4 and 5, and verb, senses 3a and 3b, probably from the spurred, ink-filled rings used by card sharpers to secretly mark cards.]

---

gaff ²

 (găf)

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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

gaff

(ɡæf)

n

1. (Angling) angling a stiff pole with a stout prong or hook attached for landing large fish

2. (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)

4. (Angling) angling to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff

5. slang to cheat; hoax

[C13: from French gaffe, from Provençal gaf boathook]

---

gaff

(ɡæf)

n

1. slang foolish talk; nonsense

2. blow the gaff slang Brit to divulge a secret

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

[C19: of unknown origin]

---

gaff

(ɡæf)

n

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

[C18: of unknown origin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

gaff¹

(gæf)
n.

1. an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish.

2. the spur on a climbing iron, esp. as used by telephone linemen.

3. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a fore-and-aft sail.

4. a metal spur for a gamecock.

v.t.

5. to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff.

[1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French gaffe, gaff]

gaff²

(gæf)

n.

Informal. harsh treatment, criticism, or ridicule (used esp. in the phrase stand the gaff).

[1895–1900, Amer.]

gaff³

(gæf)
v.t.

Slang. to cheat; fleece.

[1745–55]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

gaff

Past participle: gaffed
Gerund: gaffing

Imperative

gaff

gaff

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

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

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

arpionesvelare un segreto

гафель

gaff

¹ [gæf]

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

B. VT → arponear, enganchar

---

gaff

² [gæf] N (Brit) (= home) → casa f

---

gaff

³ [gæf] N to blow the gaff → irse de la lengua, descubrir el pastel

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

gaff

[ˈgæf] n

[boat] → espar m, corne f

(= pole) → gaffe f

see also gaffe

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

gaff

¹

n

(Fishing) → Landungshaken m, → Gaff nt

(Naut) → Gaffel f

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

---

gaff

²

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)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

gaff

[gæf] n

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

b. (Fishing) → arpione m

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995