gaff

views updated Jun 27 2018

gaff1 / gaf/ • n. 1. a stick with a hook, or a barbed spear, for landing large fish. 2. Sailing a spar to which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent. • v. [tr.] seize or impale with a gaff. gaff2 • n. rough treatment; criticism: if wages increase, perhaps we can stand the gaff.gaff3 • n. Brit., inf. a house, apartment, or other building, esp. as being a person's home: John's new gaff is on McDonald Road.

gaff

views updated May 21 2018

gaff1 hook XIII; fishing-spear XVII; steel spur XVIII. — Pr. gaf hook, of uncert. orig.

gaff

views updated May 11 2018

gaff2 (sl.) secret, in phr. blow the gaff. XIX. of unkn. orig.