tackle consisting of a single and a double block for use with rope having a large diameter
verb
3. nautical
to head (a sailing vessel) into the wind so that its sails flap
4. (intransitive) nautical
(of a sail) to flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides
5.
to move the jib of (a crane) or raise or lower the boom of (a derrick) in order to shift a load
Word origin
C13 (in the sense: steering gear): from Old French lof, perhaps from Middle Dutch loef peg of a tiller; compare Old High German laffa palm of hand, oar blade, Russian lapa paw
luff in American English
(lʌf)
noun
1.
the act of sailing close or closer to the wind
2.
the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail
verb intransitive
3.
to turn the bow of a ship toward the wind; sail close or closer to the wind
4.
to flutter
said of a sail, as on a boat that is heading too close to the wind
5.
to raise or lower the jib of a crane
Word origin
ME lof < ODu loef, weather side (of a ship), auxiliary oar for steering, akin to ON lōfi, palm of the hand < IE base *lēp-, *lōp-, flat object, flat hand > OHG lappo, flat hand, rudder blade, Russ lopata, a shovel, rudder blade
Examples of 'luff' in a sentence
luff
He had been steering by the feel of the wind on his face and the luff of the trysail.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT
Her head was tilted up, checking the luff of the mainsail, and she didn't notice him.