Gaff

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Gaff \Gaff\ (g[a^]f), n. [OE. gaffe, F. gaffe an iron hook with
     which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf. Ir. gaf,
     gafa hook; perh. akin to G. gabel fork, Skr. gabhasti. Cf.
     {Gaffle}, {Gable}.]
     1. A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by fishermen
        in securing heavy fish.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Naut.) The spar upon which the upper edge of a
        fore-and-aft sail is extended.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Same as {Gaffle}, 1. --Wright.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Gaff \Gaff\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gaffed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Gaffing}.]
     To strike with a gaff or barbed spear; to secure by means of
     a gaff; as, to gaff a salmon.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  gaff
       n 1: a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a
            quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail
       2: an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish