Luff

4 definitions found

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

  Loof \Loof\ (l[=oo]f or l[u^]f; 277), n. [See {Luff}.] [Also
     written {luff}.] (Naut.)
     (a) Formerly, some appurtenance of a vessel which was used in
         changing her course; -- probably a large paddle put over
         the lee bow to help bring her head nearer to the wind.
     (b) The part of a ship's side where the planking begins to


         curve toward bow and stern.
         [1913 Webster]

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

  Luff \Luff\ (l[u^]f), n. [OE. lof, prob. a sort of timber by
     which the course of a ship was directed, perh. a sort of
     paddle; cf. D. loef luff, loeven to luff. The word is perh.
     akin to E. glove. Cf. {Aloof}.] (Naut.)
        (a) The side of a ship toward the wind.
        (b) The act of sailing a ship close to the wind.
        (c) The roundest part of a ship's bow.
        (d) The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of
            the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     {Luff tackle}, a purchase composed of a double and single
        block and fall, used for various purposes. --Totten.
  
     {Luff upon luff}, a luff tackle attached to the fall of
        another luff tackle. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Luff \Luff\ (l[u^]f), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Luffed} (l[u^]ft); p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Luffing}.]
     1. (Naut.) To turn the head of a vessel toward the wind; to
        sail nearer the wind; to turn the tiller so as to make the
        vessel sail nearer the wind.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Naut.) To flutter or shake from being aligned close to
        the direction of the wind; -- said of a sail.
        [PJC]
  
     {To luff round}, or {To luff alee}, to make the extreme of
        this movement, for the purpose of throwing the ship's head
        into the wind.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  luff
       n : sailing close to the wind
       v 1: sail close to the wind [syn: {point}]
       2: flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; "the
          sails luffed"