gaff

Signification (Anglais)

Noun

1. A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.
2. A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe.
3. A trick or con.
4. The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
5. 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.

Verb

1. To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.
2. To cheat or hoax.
3. (transitive) To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes.
4. (obsolete, slang) To gamble, especially by tossing coins.
5. (informal, transitive) To affix gaffer tape to, or cover with gaffer tape.

Concepts

espar

gaffe

grappin

Synonymes

hook

🪝

harpoon

long-handled hook

cramp

crux

deceive

difficulty

fish-fork

fishhook

fish spear

fizgig

gad

gaff rig

gig

gripper

hitch

inconvenience

arduousness

lance

nonsense

pawl

penalty

rub

rubbish

scabrousness

spar

spear

spike

spur

straitness

straits

stuff

suffering

leister

elephant goad

knot

🪢

barb

cant hook

Traductions

gaffel

Gaffel

giz

㊙️

καμάκι

arpón

cangrejo

🦀

αγγίστρο

γάντζος

δυσκολία

rampino

🪝

pennone a corna

Landungshaken

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/ɡæf/

Étymologie (Anglais)

Hérité de moyen anglais: gaffe

Hérité de ancien anglais: gafsprǣc

Appartenant à ancien anglais: gaf

Appartenant à ancien anglais: sprǣc

Appartenant à ancien anglais: gaffetung

Appartenant à allemand: Kaff

In summary

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.
Sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.