Adjacent Words

Luff definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LUFF, n. The palm of the hand.
LUFF, n.
Weather-gage, or part towards the wind; or the sailing of a ship close to the wind.
LUFF, v.i. To turn the head of a ship towards the wind; to sail nearer the wind. Hence, in the imperative, luff, is an order to put the tiller on the lee-side, in order to make the ship sail nearer the wind. Luff round, or luff a-lee, is the extreme of this movement, intended to throw the ship's head into the wind. A ship is said to spring her luff, when she yields to the helm by sailing nearer the wind.
LUFF'-TACKLE, n. A large tackle not destined for any particular place in the ship, but movable at pleasure.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast
2: the act of sailing close to the wind v
1: sail close to the wind [syn: luff, point]
2: flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; "the sails luffed"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English lof spar holding out the windward tack of a sail, weather side of a ship, from Anglo-French Date: 14th century 1. the act of sailing a ship nearer the wind 2. the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail II. intransitive verb Date: 14th century to turn the head of a ship toward the wind

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. (also loof) Naut. --n. 1 the edge of the fore-and-aft sail next to the mast or stay. 2 Brit. the broadest part of the ship's bow where the sides begin to curve in. --v.tr. (also absol.) 1 steer (a ship) nearer the wind. 2 turn (the helm) so as to achieve this. 3 obstruct (an opponent in yacht-racing) by sailing closer to the wind. 4 raise or lower (the jib of a crane or derrick). Etymology: ME lo(o)f f. OF lof, prob. f. LG

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Loof Loof, 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Luff Luff, 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. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Luff Luff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Luffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Luffing.] (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. 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.