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gaff

/ɡæf/

Meanings
  • Noun

    An error or mistake, especially one that is foolish or embarrassing.

    - "He made a gaff by forgetting his lines during the presentation."
    - "The politician's gaff about the economy caused a public uproar."
  • Noun

    In sailing, a short length of rope or stick used to secure or adjust something.

    - "The sailor used a gaff to hoist the sail."
    - "They tied the boat to the dock with a gaff."

Pronunciation
  1. /ɡæf/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79241212"
  2. /ɡæf/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79241212"
  3. /ɡæf/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79241212"

Synonyms

hakapik
Rhymes
Words rhyming with gaff
laff , raft , aft , graft
Variants
List of all variants of gaff that leads to same result
gaff , gaffs , gaffed , gaffing , gaff-topsail , gaff-topsails , blow the gaff
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English 'gafian' meaning 'to give'. The nautical sense developed from the idea of giving a line or rope a gaff-shaped hook to secure it.


Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word
  1. The term 'gaff' has been used in various contexts throughout history, including as the name of a type of fish and a slang term for a police officer.

  2. The word 'gaff' is also used in the sport of bullfighting to refer to the red cloth that the matador uses to distract the bull.


Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to
  1. blunder: A serious mistake or error, often with embarrassing results.

  2. mistake: An error or miscalculation made, typically one that results in an unwanted or unfavorable outcome.


Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'gaff' has been used as a term for a mistake or blunder, as in the title of a novel by James Thurber. In music, there is a jazz standard called 'Gaff' by Charlie Parker.

How to Memorize "gaff"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize the shape of a gaff, which resembles a hook. Imagine a sailor using a gaff to secure a rope or adjust a sail.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'gaff' with the idea of making a mistake or error.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the mnemonic 'Gaff is for giving a line a hook'


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