gaff

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noun (1)

ˈgaf

Synonyms of gaff next

: a handled hook for holding or lifting heavy fish

: a spear or spearhead for taking fish or turtles

: a metal spur for a gamecock

: a butcher's hook

: a climbing iron or its steel point

: the spar (see spar entry 1 sense 2a) on which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is extended

: gaffe

gaff

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verb (1)

gaffed; gaffing; gaffs

transitive verb

: to strike or secure with a spear or hook

gaff a salmon

: to fit (a gamecock) with a metal spur

gaff

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noun (2)

: something painful or difficult to bear : ordeal

—usually used in the phrase stand the gaff

especially : persistent raillery or criticism

: rough treatment : abuse

: hoax, fraud

: gimmick, trick

gaff

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verb (2)

gaffed; gaffing; gaffs

transitive verb

: deceive, trick

also : fleece

: to fix for the purpose of cheating

gaff the dice

gaff

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The designer makes accessible, gender-affirming clothing, including chest binders and tucking or gaff underwear, which is meant to hide genitalia. —

Sara Radin, refinery29.com, 29 July 2020 Ito rushed in with the gaff, helping to clear his way through the crowd. —

Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2022 Newgarden’s qualifying gaff Saturday left him with a noted tire advantage, but a need overnight to cobble together an outside-the-box strategy plan with Cindric, who calls strategy on the No. 2 Chevy. —

Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2022 That wasn’t the only reason Harvey was at the center of Twitterverse this week though, as the host essentially solidified a drinking game out of his now-notorious gaff. —

Amber Dowling, Variety, 15 Dec. 2021 Finally, a mysterious shot reveals someone putting stuff away, including the compass and a gaff hook. —

Jean Bentley, refinery29.com, 29 Sep. 2021 After an embarrassing administrative gaff, a few zany candidates, and nationwide anticipation, New York City’s final vote tally for the mayoral primaries is in. —

Time, 10 July 2021 Police in the Northern Samar province said Lieutenant Christian Bolok was struck by the rooster's gaff -- a metal blade attached to the bird for a fight. —

Rob Picheta, CNN, 28 Oct. 2020 The rooster’s gaff, a sharp blade fixed to its leg for fighting, somehow cut through the officer’s femoral artery, BBC News reported. —

Fox News, 28 Oct. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gaff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from French gaffe, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Old Occitan gaf, probably derivative of gafar "to seize," of obscure origin

Note: Middle English gaffe, occurring in the early 14th-century "Kildare Poems" (British Library MS Harley 913) and glossed "iron hook" in the Middle English Dictionary, is of uncertain relation to the modern word. It predates attestations of the word in French.

Verb (1)

derivative of gaff entry 1

Noun (2)

of obscure origin

Verb (2)

probably derivative of gaff entry 3

Noun (3)

of obscure origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)