luff : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: luff	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for luff
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
luff n (nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast the act of sailing close to the wind v sail close to the wind Synonym(s): luff, point flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; "the sails luffed"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Loof \Loof\, n. [See {Luff}.] [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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Luff \Luff\, n. [OE. lof, prob. a sort of timber by which the course of a ship was directed, perh. a sort of paddle; cf. D. loef luff, loeven to luff. The word is perh. akin to E. glove. Cf. {Aloof}.] (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. --Totten. {Luff upon luff}, a luff tackle attached to the fall of another luff tackle. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Luff \Luff\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Luffed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Luffing}.] (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. {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.