Hypertext Webster Gateway: "luff"
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
luff
n : sailing close to the wind
v 1: sail close to the wind [syn: {point}]
2: flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; of
sails
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