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gaff
1[ gaf ]
noun
- an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish.
- the spur on a climbing iron, especially as used by telephone linemen.
- Nautical. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail gaff sail, orgaff-headed sail.
- a metal spur for a gamecock.
verb (used with object)
- to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff.
gaff
2[ gaf ]
noun
- harsh treatment or criticism (usually used in the phrase stand/take the gaff ):
All the gaff he took never made him bitter.
You shouldn't be in show biz if you can't stand the gaff.
gaff
3[ gaf ]
verb (used with object)
- Slang. to cheat; fleece.
verb (used without object)
- British Slang. to gamble, especially to indulge in petty gambling, as to toss coins.
gaff
1/ ɡæf /
noun
- a person's home, esp a flat
- Also calledpenny-gaff a cheap or low-class place of entertainment, esp a cheap theatre or music hall in Victorian England
gaff
2/ ɡæf /
noun
- angling a stiff pole with a stout prong or hook attached for landing large fish
- nautical a boom hoisted aft of a mast to support a gaffsail
- a metal spur fixed to the leg of a gamecock
verb
- angling to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff
- slang.to cheat; hoax
gaff
3/ ɡæf /
noun
- slang.foolish talk; nonsense
- blow the gaff slang.blow the gaff to divulge a secret
- stand the gaff slang.stand the gaff to endure ridicule, difficulties, etc
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Word History and Origins
Origin of gaff1
Origin of gaff2
Origin of gaff3
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Word History and Origins
Origin of gaff1
Origin of gaff2
Origin of gaff3
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Idioms and Phrases
see stand the gaff .Discover More
Example Sentences
Meanwhile, on the other end, US Airways seems genuinely confused by their gaff.
If with the Vice-Admiral he will hoist a white flag at the end of the gaff or derrick, and fire two guns.
When he would have the fleet come to an anchor, he will show double Dutch colours at the end of his gaff and fire a gun.
The bowlines on the luff of the gaff topsails should be particularly noticed as a feature of this period.
Unfortunately 'Meteor' and 'Iverna' were not competing, the former having damaged her gaff.
We've picked up a guy out of an ice gang that's willin' to stand th' gaff, but we need another one.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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