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luff

noun
\ ˈləf How to pronounce luff (audio) \

Definition of luff

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the act of sailing a ship nearer the wind
2 : the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail

luff

verb
luffed; luffing; luffs

Definition of luff (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to turn the head of a ship toward the wind

Examples of luff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Smaller cranes, such as luffing or mobile cranes, are laid flat on the ground during a storm and do not pose a threat. — Rene Rodriguez, miamiherald, "Construction cranes could be dangerous during Hurricane Irma," 5 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of luff

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for luff

Noun

Middle English lof spar holding out the windward tack of a sail, weather side of a ship, from Anglo-French

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