Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.