English Dictionary

GAFF

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gaff mean? 

GAFF (noun)
  The noun GAFF has 3 senses:

1. a sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecockplay

2. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sailplay

3. an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fishplay

  Familiarity information: GAFF used as a noun is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


GAFF (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecock

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gaff" is a kind of...):

spike (each of the sharp points on the soles of athletic shoes to prevent slipping (or the shoes themselves))


Sense 2

Meaning:

A spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gaff" is a kind of...):

spar (a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging)

Holonyms ("gaff" is a part of...):

sailing ship; sailing vessel (a vessel that is powered by the wind; often having several masts)


Sense 3

Meaning:

An iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gaff" is a kind of...):

hook (a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something)

Holonyms ("gaff" is a member of...):

fishing gear; fishing rig; fishing tackle; rig; tackle (gear used in fishing)


 Context examples 


At any moment he was liable to be snapped off the gaff, but he was helpless with fright.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In some way, when Harrison was aloft, the sheet jammed in the block through which it runs at the end of the gaff.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The sail emptied and the gaff swung amid-ships.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I stuck it in, like into soft butter, an’ the w’y ’e squealed was better’n a tu-penny gaff.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A little later he made the end of the gaff, where, astride the spar itself, he had a better chance for holding on.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It was a slight uphill climb, for the foresail peaked high; and the halyards, running through various blocks on the gaff and mast, gave him separate holds for hands and feet.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The air was thick with flying wreckage, detached ropes and stays were hissing and coiling like snakes, and down through it all crashed the gaff of the foresail.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

At half after five I went below to set the cabin table, but I hardly knew what I did, for my eyes and my brain were filled with the vision of a man, white-faced and trembling, comically like a bug, clinging to the thrashing gaff.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

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.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Everything's eventual." (English proverb)

"Fun and pleasure are located below the navel; dispute and trouble are also located there." (Bhutanese proverb)

"Over a long distance, you learn about the strength of your horse; over a long time, you learn about the character of your friend." (Chinese proverb)

"He whom the shoe fits should put it on." (Dutch proverb)



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