name
Meaning 1
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
gaff
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ɡæf/
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Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -æf
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homophone: gaffe
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CMU ARPABET: G AE1 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hakapik
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- We politely ignored his gaff.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A trick or con.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The sideshow feat was just a gaff, but the audience was too proud to admit they'd been fooled.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A type of tight, panty-like underwear worn to hold the penis and testicles tucked backwards and make one's genital region look smooth, as if one had a vulva.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
Rough or harsh treatment; criticism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
An outcry; nonsense.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
A place of residence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Ireland, UK, slang
Examples
- We're going round to Mike's gaff later to watch the footie.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
A disreputable, low-end theatre.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, dated, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
Clipping of gaffer tape.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal, uncountable
Examples
- She bought a roll of black gaff to tape down the loose cords.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 12
To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 13
To cheat or hoax.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 14
To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 15
To gamble, especially by tossing coins.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 16
To affix gaffer tape to, or cover with gaffer tape.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 17
an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hook
noun
Meaning 18
a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: spar
noun
Meaning 19
a sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecock
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: spike
History
Etymology
From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1, noun sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.
Perhaps from Old English gafsprǣc (“buffoonery, scurrility; blasphemous or ribald speech”), from Old English gaf (“base, vile, lewd”) + Old English sprǣc (“language, speech, talk”). Compare Old English gaffetung, gafettung (“scoffing, mockery, derision”).
Unknown. Possibly from Etymology 1, via a sense of “a place that will be robbed” in criminal argot; possibly from Etymology 2, via a sense of "cheap theatre"; possibly from Romani gav (“village”) (whence German Kaff (“village”)).
Across languages
Translations
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: кука (kuka) — handle with a hook
- Finnish: pokara — handle with a hook
- Georgian: ბარჯი (barǯi) — handle with a hook
- German: Fischhaken — handle with a hook
- Greek: καμάκι (kamáki) — handle with a hook
- Irish: ga — handle with a hook
- Italian: uncino — handle with a hook
- Italian: fiocina — handle with a hook
- Italian: crocco — handle with a hook
- Komi-Zyrian: багыр (bagyr) — handle with a hook
- Māori: pīhuka — handle with a hook
- Eastern Mari: пагор (pagor) — handle with a hook
- Western Mari: пагыр (pagyr) — handle with a hook
- Polish: osęka — handle with a hook
- Polish: osęk — handle with a hook
- Polish: bosak — handle with a hook
- Russian: баго́р (bagór) — handle with a hook
- Czech: vratiráhno — nautical
- Finnish: kahveli — nautical
- Spanish: puón — artificial spur for a gamecock
- Georgian: დაბარჯვა (dabarǯva) — to use a gaff to land fish
- Māori: pīhuka — to use a gaff to land fish