Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Luff

Luff

(lŭf)
,
Noun.
[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

(lŭf)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Luffed
(lŭft)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Luffing
.]
1.
(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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Luff

LUFF

,
Noun.
The palm of the hand.

LUFF

,
Noun.
Weather-gage, or part towards the wind; or the sailing of a ship close to the wind.

LUFF

,
Verb.
I.
To turn the head of a ship towards the wind; to sail nearer the wind. Hence, in the imperative, luff, is an order to put the tiller on the lee-side, in order to make the ship sail nearer the wind. Luff round, or luff a-lee, is the extreme of this movement, intended to throw the ship's head into the wind. A ship is said to spring her luff, when she yields to the helm by sailing nearer the wind.

Similar Results