Source etymology 1
Original entry ↗To use a gaff, especially to land a fish. · To cheat or hoax. · To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes. · To gamble, especially by tossing coins.
A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat. · A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe. · A trick or con. · The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1, noun sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
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"To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.",
"To cheat or hoax.",
"To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes.",
"To gamble, especially by tossing coins."
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"A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.",
"A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe.",
"A trick or con.",
"The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail."
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