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Webster 1913 Edition

(găf)

Noun.

[OE.

gaffe

, F.

gaffe

an iron hook with which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf. Ir.

gaf

gafa

hook; perh. akin to G.

gabel

fork, Skr.

gabhasti

. Cf.

A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by fishermen in securing heavy fish.

(Naut.)

The spar upon which the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail is extended.

Same as

, 1.

Wright.

Verb.

[

imp. & p. p.

Gaffed

;

p. pr. & vb. n.

Gaffing

To strike with a gaff or barbed spear; to secure by means of a gaff;

as, to

gaff

a salmon