"luff" meaning in English

See luff in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /lʌf/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-luff.wav Forms: luffs [plural]
Rhymes: -ʌf Etymology: From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover. Etymology templates: {{uder|en|fro|lof}} Old French lof, {{uder|en|dum|loef}} Middle Dutch loef Head templates: {{en-noun}} luff (plural luffs)
  1. (nautical) The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind. Categories (topical): Nautical Translations (vertical edge of a sail): caient de proa [masculine] (Catalan), loef [masculine] (Dutch), שְׂפַת הַמִפְרָשׂ (sfat hamifras) [feminine] (Hebrew), inferitura [feminine] (Italian), lof [masculine] (Norman)
    Sense id: en-luff-en-noun-aQUWutsy Categories (other): Entries with translation boxes Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12 Topics: nautical, transport Disambiguation of 'vertical edge of a sail': 71 4 1 25
  2. (nautical) The act of sailing a ship close to the wind. Categories (topical): Nautical Translations (act of sailing close to the wind): orsa [feminine] (Catalan)
    Sense id: en-luff-en-noun-uSttW6UB Topics: nautical, transport Disambiguation of 'act of sailing close to the wind': 25 68 2 6
  3. (nautical) The roundest part of a ship's bow. Categories (topical): Nautical
    Sense id: en-luff-en-noun-G5db6FDx Topics: nautical, transport
  4. (nautical) The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails. Categories (topical): Nautical Translations (forward or weather leech of a sail): שָׂפָה קִדְמִית (sapa kidmit) [feminine] (Hebrew)
    Sense id: en-luff-en-noun-Ixpr-QoU Categories (other): Entries with translation boxes Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12 Topics: nautical, transport Disambiguation of 'forward or weather leech of a sail': 20 6 2 71
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: choke the luff, spring the luff

Verb

IPA: /lʌf/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-luff.wav Forms: luffs [present, singular, third-person], luffing [participle, present], luffed [participle, past], luffed [past]
Rhymes: -ʌf Etymology: From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover. Etymology templates: {{uder|en|fro|lof}} Old French lof, {{uder|en|dum|loef}} Middle Dutch loef Head templates: {{en-verb}} luff (third-person singular simple present luffs, present participle luffing, simple past and past participle luffed)
  1. (nautical, of a sail, intransitive) To shake due to being trimmed improperly. Tags: intransitive Categories (topical): Nautical
    Sense id: en-luff-en-verb-5oO~0XOZ Categories (other): Entries with translation boxes Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12 Topics: nautical, transport
  2. (nautical, of sailing vessels, intransitive) To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up) Tags: intransitive Categories (topical): Nautical
    Sense id: en-luff-en-verb-Q6aIV39m Categories (other): Entries with translation boxes Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12 Topics: nautical, transport
  3. (nautical, transitive) to let out (a sail) so that it luffs. Tags: transitive Categories (topical): Nautical
    Sense id: en-luff-en-verb-sFWaUt0a Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English undefined derivations, Entries with translation boxes, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 2 entries, Pages with entries, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with Hebrew translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Norman translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 15 3 8 8 9 18 24 16 Disambiguation of English undefined derivations: 13 5 7 7 9 15 28 16 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 13 3 7 8 8 16 24 15 3 3 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 15 2 8 7 10 17 24 13 2 2 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 16 1 8 8 10 18 24 13 1 1 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 14 4 8 11 12 16 22 13 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 12 4 7 9 13 16 25 14 Disambiguation of Terms with Hebrew translations: 13 4 7 14 12 15 21 14 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 13 3 7 9 13 16 24 13 Disambiguation of Terms with Norman translations: 13 5 8 13 12 16 20 12 Topics: nautical, transport
  4. (mechanical) To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load.
    Sense id: en-luff-en-verb-tIOBUNrq Categories (other): Entries with translation boxes Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12 Topics: engineering, mechanical, mechanical-engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: luff alee, luffing crane, luff round, luff tackle, luff up, luff upon luff

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "choke the luff"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "spring the luff"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "lof"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French lof",
      "name": "uder"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dum",
        "3": "loef"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch loef",
      "name": "uder"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "luffs",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "luff (plural luffs)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "By easing the halyard, the luff of the sail was made to sag to leeward.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:",
          "text": "\"The man at the helm was watching the luff of the sail and whistling away gently to himself.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-noun-aQUWutsy",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "vertical",
          "vertical"
        ],
        [
          "edge",
          "edge"
        ],
        [
          "sail",
          "sail"
        ],
        [
          "wind",
          "wind"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "71 4 1 25",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "caient de proa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 4 1 25",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "loef"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 4 1 25",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "sfat hamifras",
          "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "שְׂפַת הַמִפְרָשׂ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 4 1 25",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "inferitura"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 4 1 25",
          "code": "nrf",
          "lang": "Norman",
          "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "lof"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The act of sailing a ship close to the wind."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-noun-uSttW6UB",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The act of sailing a ship close to the wind."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "25 68 2 6",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "act of sailing close to the wind",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "orsa"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The roundest part of a ship's bow."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-noun-G5db6FDx",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "bow",
          "bow"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The roundest part of a ship's bow."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-noun-Ixpr-QoU",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "forward",
          "forward"
        ],
        [
          "weather",
          "weather"
        ],
        [
          "leech",
          "leech"
        ],
        [
          "jib",
          "jib"
        ],
        [
          "spanker",
          "spanker"
        ],
        [
          "fore-and-aft",
          "fore-and-aft"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "20 6 2 71",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "sapa kidmit",
          "sense": "forward or weather leech of a sail",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "שָׂפָה קִדְמִית"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/lʌf/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-luff.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ʌf"
    }
  ],
  "word": "luff"
}

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "luff alee"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "luffing crane"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "luff round"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "luff tackle"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "luff up"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "luff upon luff"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "lof"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French lof",
      "name": "uder"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dum",
        "3": "loef"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch loef",
      "name": "uder"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "luffs",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "luffing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "luffed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "luffed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "luff (third-person singular simple present luffs, present participle luffing, simple past and past participle luffed)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1993, John Banville, Ghosts:",
          "text": "I thought how my life is like a little boat and I must hold the tiller steady against the buffeting of wind and waves, and how sometimes, like this morning, I lose my hold somehow and the sail luffs helplessly and the little vessel wallows, turning this way and that in the swell.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To shake due to being trimmed improperly."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-verb-5oO~0XOZ",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "shake",
          "shake"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, of a sail, intransitive) To shake due to being trimmed improperly."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of a sail"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick:",
          "text": "\"Helm there! Luff, luff a point! So; steady, man, steady!\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up)"
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-verb-Q6aIV39m",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, of sailing vessels, intransitive) To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up)"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of sailing vessels"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "15 3 8 8 9 18 24 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 5 7 7 9 15 28 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English undefined derivations",
          "parents": [
            "Undefined derivations",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 3 7 8 8 16 24 15 3 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "15 2 8 7 10 17 24 13 2 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 2 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "16 1 8 8 10 18 24 13 1 1",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 4 8 11 12 16 22 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 4 7 9 13 16 25 14",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 4 7 14 12 15 21 14",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hebrew translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 3 7 9 13 16 24 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "13 5 8 13 12 16 20 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Norman translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "to let out (a sail) so that it luffs."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-verb-sFWaUt0a",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, transitive) to let out (a sail) so that it luffs."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "12 3 7 11 18 15 22 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1999, Howard I. Shapiro, Jay P. Shapiro, Lawrence K. Shapiro, Cranes and Derricks, →ISBN, page 95:",
          "text": "The tower is mounted on a slewing platform, which also carries the power plant and the counterweights, while the jib is supported and luffed by fixed pendant ropes.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load."
      ],
      "id": "en-luff-en-verb-tIOBUNrq",
      "links": [
        [
          "jib",
          "jib"
        ],
        [
          "crane",
          "crane"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mechanical) To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "engineering",
        "mechanical",
        "mechanical-engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/lʌf/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-luff.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ʌf"
    }
  ],
  "word": "luff"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Middle Dutch",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English undefined derivations",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/ʌf",
    "Rhymes:English/ʌf/1 syllable",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Hebrew translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Norman translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "choke the luff"
    },
    {
      "word": "spring the luff"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "lof"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French lof",
      "name": "uder"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dum",
        "3": "loef"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch loef",
      "name": "uder"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "luffs",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "luff (plural luffs)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "By easing the halyard, the luff of the sail was made to sag to leeward.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:",
          "text": "\"The man at the helm was watching the luff of the sail and whistling away gently to himself.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "vertical",
          "vertical"
        ],
        [
          "edge",
          "edge"
        ],
        [
          "sail",
          "sail"
        ],
        [
          "wind",
          "wind"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The act of sailing a ship close to the wind."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The act of sailing a ship close to the wind."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The roundest part of a ship's bow."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "bow",
          "bow"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The roundest part of a ship's bow."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "forward",
          "forward"
        ],
        [
          "weather",
          "weather"
        ],
        [
          "leech",
          "leech"
        ],
        [
          "jib",
          "jib"
        ],
        [
          "spanker",
          "spanker"
        ],
        [
          "fore-and-aft",
          "fore-and-aft"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/lʌf/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-luff.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ʌf"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "caient de proa"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "loef"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "sfat hamifras",
      "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "שְׂפַת הַמִפְרָשׂ"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "inferitura"
    },
    {
      "code": "nrf",
      "lang": "Norman",
      "sense": "vertical edge of a sail",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "lof"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "act of sailing close to the wind",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "orsa"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "sapa kidmit",
      "sense": "forward or weather leech of a sail",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "שָׂפָה קִדְמִית"
    }
  ],
  "word": "luff"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Middle Dutch",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English undefined derivations",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/ʌf",
    "Rhymes:English/ʌf/1 syllable",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Hebrew translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Norman translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "luff alee"
    },
    {
      "word": "luffing crane"
    },
    {
      "word": "luff round"
    },
    {
      "word": "luff tackle"
    },
    {
      "word": "luff up"
    },
    {
      "word": "luff upon luff"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "lof"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French lof",
      "name": "uder"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dum",
        "3": "loef"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch loef",
      "name": "uder"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "luffs",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "luffing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "luffed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "luffed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "luff (third-person singular simple present luffs, present participle luffing, simple past and past participle luffed)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1993, John Banville, Ghosts:",
          "text": "I thought how my life is like a little boat and I must hold the tiller steady against the buffeting of wind and waves, and how sometimes, like this morning, I lose my hold somehow and the sail luffs helplessly and the little vessel wallows, turning this way and that in the swell.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To shake due to being trimmed improperly."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "shake",
          "shake"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, of a sail, intransitive) To shake due to being trimmed improperly."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of a sail"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick:",
          "text": "\"Helm there! Luff, luff a point! So; steady, man, steady!\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, of sailing vessels, intransitive) To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up)"
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of sailing vessels"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs",
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "to let out (a sail) so that it luffs."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, transitive) to let out (a sail) so that it luffs."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1999, Howard I. Shapiro, Jay P. Shapiro, Lawrence K. Shapiro, Cranes and Derricks, →ISBN, page 95:",
          "text": "The tower is mounted on a slewing platform, which also carries the power plant and the counterweights, while the jib is supported and luffed by fixed pendant ropes.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "jib",
          "jib"
        ],
        [
          "crane",
          "crane"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(mechanical) To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "engineering",
        "mechanical",
        "mechanical-engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/lʌf/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-luff.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/ba/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-luff.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ʌf"
    }
  ],
  "word": "luff"
}

Download raw JSONL data for luff meaning in English (9.1kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (8a39820 and 4401a4c). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.