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Luff   /ləf/   Listen
verb
Luff  v. i.  (past & past part. luffed; pres. part. 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.
2.
(Naut.) To flutter or shake from being aligned close to the direction of the wind; said of a sail.
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.



noun
Loof  n.  (Also written luff)  (Naut.)
(a)
Formerly, some appurtenance of a vessel which was used in changing her course; probably a large paddle put over the lee bow to help bring her head nearer to the wind.
(b)
The part of a ship's side where the planking begins to curve toward bow and stern.



Luff  n.  (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.
Luff upon luff, a luff tackle attached to the fall of another luff tackle.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Luff" Quotes from Famous Books



... the day, old Uncle Tommy Luff, just in from the fishing grounds off the Mull, where he had been jigging for stray cod all day long, had moored his punt to the stage-head, and he was now coming up the path with his sail over his shoulder, his back to the wide, flaring ...
— Billy Topsail & Company - A Story for Boys • Norman Duncan

... before, had been secretly perplexed as to the best course. He had decided to run for the island; but he was not easy under his own decision; and, at night, he got more and more discontented with it. Finally, at nine o'clock P.M., he suddenly gave the order to luff, and tack; and by daybreak he was very near the place where the Proserpine went down, whereas the cutter, having run before the wind all night, was, at least, a hundred miles to ...
— Foul Play • Charles Reade

... and took the wind so far on the beam that she buried her scuppers deep in the waves. The order to "touch her up," or luff her up into the wind, so as partially to spill the sail, was given to ease off the tremendous pressure. The Josephine minded her helm, and luffed so ...
— Dikes and Ditches - Young America in Holland and Belguim • Oliver Optic

... no restriction in the diet such as is required in gouty patients, so long as the digestion is not impaired. Benefit is also derived from the administration of cod-liver oil, and of tonics, such as strychnin, arsenic, and iron, and in some cases of iodide of potassium. Luff recommends the administration over long periods of guaiacol carbonate, in cachets beginning with doses of 5-10 grs. and increased to 15-20 grs. thrice daily. A course of treatment at one of the reputed spas—Aix, Bath, Buxton, Gastein, Harrogate, Strathpeffer, Wiesbaden, ...
— Manual of Surgery - Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. • Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

... own," said Griffith, rousing again; "though we had better anchor. Luff, fellow, luff—you ...
— The Pilot • J. Fenimore Cooper


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