luff

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[edit] English

luff (plural luffs)

(nautical) The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.

By easing the halyard the luff of the sail sagged to leeward.

vertical edge of a sail

luff (third-person singular simple present luffs, present participle luffing, simple past and past participle luffed)

(nautical, of a sail, intransitive) To shake due to being trimmed improperly.
(nautical, of a boat, intransitive) To alter course to windward so that the sails luff. (Alternatively luff up)
(nautical, transitive) to let out [a sail] so that it luffs.
(mechanical) To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load.
- 1999, Howard I. Shapiro, Jay P. Shapiro, Lawrence K. Shapiro, Cranes and Derricks^[1], ISBN 0070578893, page 95:
  
  The tower is mounted on a slewing platform, which also carries the power plant and the counterweights, while the jib is supported and luffed by fixed pendant ropes.