Definition of luff Luff

/lʌˈf/ - [luf] - luff

We found 17 definitions of luff from 6 different sources.

What does luff mean?

Noun Plural: lufves
luff - the act of sailing close to the wind
		sailing the departure of a vessel from a port
luff - (nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast
		edge a sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object; "he rounded the edges of the box"
		fore-and-aft sail any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore-and-aft direction
Verb luffs, luffing, luffed
luff - sail close to the wind
		point
		sail traverse or travel on (a body of water); "We sailed the Atlantic"; "He sailed the Pacific all alone"
		pilotage, piloting, navigation the occupation of a pilot
luff - flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; "the sails luffed"
		undulate, wave, flap, roll increase and decrease in volume or pitch, as if in waves; "The singer's voice undulated"

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luff (Noun)
The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.
luff (Verb)
To shake due to being trimmed improperly.
luff (Verb)
To alter course to windward so that the sails luff.
luff (Verb)
To let out a sail so that it luffs.
luff (Verb)
To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load.

luff (n.)
The side of a ship toward the wind.
luff (n.)
The act of sailing a ship close to the wind.
luff (n.)
The roundest part of a ship's bow.
luff (n.)
The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails.
luff (v. i.)
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.

luff
lof, the order from the pilot to the steersman to put the helm towards the lee-side of the ship, in order to make the ship sail nearer the direction of the wind. Hence, luff round, or luff alee, envoie, lof tout, is the excess of this movement, by which it is intended to throw the ship’s head up in the wind, in order to tack her, &c.
A ship is accordingly said to spring her luff, faire une olofée, when she yields to the effort of the helm, by sailing nearer to the line of the wind than she had done before. See also HAULING the wind, and STEERING.

luff
The order to the helmsman, so as to bring the ship's head up more to windward. Sometimes called springing a luff. Also, the air or wind. Also, an old familiar term for lieutenant. Also, the fullest or roundest part of a ship's bows. Also, the weather-leech of a sail.

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luff in sign language