luff
UK[lʌf]US[lʌf]
v
to turn the front of a sailing ship toward the direction of the wind so that the sail shakes
n
the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail
Etymology
the word 'luff' entered english in the late 13th century from old french 'lof', likely borrowed from a low german or dutch source like middle low german 'lof' meaning 'windward side' or a related nautical term. its ultimate origin is obscure but may be connected to a root implying 'to turn' or 'the weather side'. the semantic journey is direct, moving from a term describing the windward part of a ship to the specific action of steering into the wind and the name for the leading edge of a sail. this evolution reflects a tight, specialized meaning retained within the technical vocabulary of sailing.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a nautical term of uncertain, possibly low german or dutch origin, functioning as a verb and a noun related to sailing maneuvers and sail parts.
Examples
the captain ordered the crew to luff the sails as the wind shifted.
the luff of the mainsail began to flutter noisily.
he failed to luff in time, causing the boat to lose speed.