n. [ OE. gaffe, F. gaffe an iron hook with which seamen pull great fishes into their ships; cf. Ir. gaf, gafa hook; perh. akin to G. gabel fork, Skr. gabhasti. Cf. Gaffle, Gable. ] 1. A barbed spear or a hook with a handle, used by fishermen in securing heavy fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) The spar upon which the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail is extended. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Same as Gaffle, 1. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Gaffed p. pr. & vb. n. Gaffing. ] To strike with a gaff or barbed spear; to secure by means of a gaff; as, to gaff a salmon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A socially awkward or tactless act.
Syn. -- faux-pas, solecism, slip, gaucherie. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Possibly contr. fr. godfather; but prob. fr. gramfer for grandfather. Cf. Gammer. ] 1. An old fellow; an aged rustic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Go to each gaffer and each goody. Fawkes. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Gaffer was originally a respectful title, now degenerated into a term of familiarity or contempt when addressed to an aged man in humble life. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A foreman or overseer of a gang of laborers. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. AS. geafl fork, LG., D., Sw., & Dan. gaffel, G. gabel, W. gafl, Ir. & Gael. gabhal. Cf. Gaff. ] 1. An artificial spur or gaff for gamecocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A lever to bend crossbows. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A small triangular sail having its foot extended upon the gaff and its luff upon the topmast. [ 1913 Webster ]