luff

Noun · Verb
US[luhf]/lʌf/1 syllable
Synonyms: point

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

  1. (nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mastType of edgePart of fore-and-aft sail
  2. the act of sailing close to the windType of sailing

Verb (2)luffed, luffing

  1. sail close to the windSynonyms: pointMore general sail
  2. flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides“the sails luffed”More general roll, undulate
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Luff (lŭf), noun

Origin: 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.

Nautical (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.

Luff tackle, a purchase composed of a double and single block and fall, used for various purposes. Benjamin J. Totten — Luff upon luff, a luff tackle attached to the fall of another luff tackle. Richard Henry, Jr. Dana

Luff (lŭf), intransitive verb [past tense & past participle Luffed (lŭft); present participle & verbal noun Luffing.]

1. Nautical 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.

2. Nautical To flutter or shake from being aligned close to the direction of the wind; — said of a sail.

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.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors

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