1
a
: a handled hook for holding or lifting heavy fish
b
: a spear or spearhead for taking fish or turtles
c
: a metal spur for a gamecock
d
: a butcher's hook
e
: a climbing iron or its steel point
2
: the spar (see spar entry 1 sense 2a) on which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is extended
3
: gaffe
gaffed; gaffing; gaffs
1
: to strike or secure with a spear or hook
gaff a salmon
2
: to fit (a gamecock) with a metal spur
gaffed; gaffing; gaffs
2
: to fix for the purpose of cheating
gaff the dice
British
: a cheap theater or music hall
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (2)
Examples of gaff in a Sentence
Noun (1)
you can expect to make some amusing gaffs until you get more familiar with the language
double-check the new writer's grammar, as it's typically riddled with gaffs
Verb (2)
a sleazy schemer who gaffed gullible people into thinking they could get rich with a money-making opportunity
the operators of the traveling carnival had gaffed patrons with a variety of time-honored ruses
Recent Examples on the Web
Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 7 Aug. 2024
Dana Taylor: How can people determine the difference between just a normal gaff and when there's actually something wrong?
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Sunday's cartoons - airline safety, teleprompter gaffs, and more
Newsletter sign up
By The Week US
published April 28, 2024
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 28 Apr. 2024
Despite the gaff, Redmaye is still hoping to sneak his son and daughter into the August Wilson Theatre in New York City to see his opening number.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for gaff 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Some of the gear commonly used for technical climbing, like gaffs—steel spikes worn on the legs for added grip on the tree trunk when cutting branches—can also cause inadvertent damage to the tallest trees.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 7 Aug. 2024
Dana Taylor: How can people determine the difference between just a normal gaff and when there's actually something wrong?
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Sunday's cartoons - airline safety, teleprompter gaffs, and more
Newsletter sign up
By The Week US
published April 28, 2024
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 28 Apr. 2024
Despite the gaff, Redmaye is still hoping to sneak his son and daughter into the August Wilson Theatre in New York City to see his opening number.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for gaff
Articles Related to gaff
Dictionary Entries Near gaff
Cite this Entry
“Gaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaff. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share