gaff 1
/gaf/ , n.
1. an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish.
2. the spur on a climbing iron, esp. as used by telephone linemen.
3. Naut. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail (gaff sail) .
4. a metal spur for a gamecock.
v.t.
5. to hook or land (a fish) with a gaff.
[ 1275-1325; ME gaffe, gaff
gaf hook, gaff, n. deriv. of gafar to seize (cf. ML gaffare ), prob. gaff-, perh. deriv. from base of Goth giban GIVE ]
gaff 2
/gaf/ , n.
1. harsh treatment or criticism: All the gaff he took never made him bitter.
2. stand or take the gaff , Slang. to weather hardship or strain; endure patiently.
[ 1895-1900, Amer.; cf. earlier British use: nonsense, humbug, Scots dial.: loud laugh, guffaw; of uncert. orig.; cf. GUFF ]
gaff 3
/gaf/ , v.t.
1. Slang. to cheat; fleece.
v.i.
2. Brit. Slang. to gamble, esp. to indulge in petty gambling, as to toss coins.
[ 1745-55; orig. uncert. ]