Luff

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

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.].

 The side of a ship toward the wind.  [1913 Webster]

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.

Luff, v. i. 

•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To flutter or shake from being aligned close to the direction of the wind; -- said of a sail.  [PJC]

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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Luff, n. & v. (also loof) Naut.
--n.
1 the edge of the fore-and-aft sail next to the mast or stay.
2 Brit. the broadest part of the ship's bow where the sides begin to curve in.
--v.tr. (also absol.)
1 steer (a ship) nearer the wind.
2 turn (the helm) so as to achieve this.
3 obstruct (an opponent in yacht-racing) by sailing closer to the wind.
4 raise or lower (the jib of a crane or derrick).

Etymology

ME lo(o)f f. OF lof, prob. f. LG

ROGET THESAURUS

Luff

Navigation

VB sail, put to sea, take ship, get under way, set sail, spread sail, spread canvas, gather way, have way on, make sail, carry sail, plow the waves, plow the deep, plow the main, plow the ocean, walk the waters, navigate, warp, luff, scud, boom, kedge, drift, course, cruise, coast, hug the shore, hug the land, circumnavigate, ply the oar, row, paddle, pull, scull, punt, steam, swim, float, buffet the waves, ride the storm, skim, effleurer, dive, wade, fly, be wafted, hover, soar, flutter, jet, orbit, rocket, take wing, take a flight, take off, ascend, blast off, land, alight, wing one's flight, wing one's way, aviate, parachute, jump, glide.