luff

[ luhf ]
/ lʌf /

noun Nautical.

the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

verb (used without object)

to bring the head of a sailing ship closer to or directly into the wind, with sails shaking.
(of a sail) to shake from being set too close to the wind: The sail luffed as we put about for port.
to raise or lower the outer end of the boom of a crane or derrick so as to move its load horizontally.

verb (used with object)

to set (the helm of a ship) in such a way as to bring the head of the ship into the wind.
to raise or lower the outer end of (the boom of a crane or derrick).

Origin of luff

1175–1225; Middle English lof, loof steering gear (compare Old French lof) < Middle Dutch (unrecorded), later Dutch loef tholepin (of tiller)

OTHER WORDS FROM luff

un·luffed, adjective

Words nearby luff

luening, luer syringe, lues, luetic, luetic mask, luff, luff on luff, luff tackle, luffa, lufkin, luftwaffe

Example sentences from the Web for luff

British Dictionary definitions for luff

luff
/ (lʌf) /

noun

nautical the leading edge of a fore-and-aft sail

noun

tackle consisting of a single and a double block for use with rope having a large diameter

verb

nautical to head (a sailing vessel) into the wind so that her sails flap
(intr) nautical (of a sail) to flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides
to move the jib of (a crane) or raise or lower the boom of (a derrick) in order to shift a load

Word Origin for luff

C13 (in the sense: steering gear): from Old French lof, perhaps from Middle Dutch loef peg of a tiller; compare Old High German laffa palm of hand, oar blade, Russian lapa paw