Luff (lŭf), 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.
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.