Luff — Defs

01 n. The side of a ship toward the wind.

Phrases & compounds

Luff tackle — a purchase composed of a double and single block and fall, used for various purposes.

Luff upon luff — a luff tackle attached to the fall of another luff tackle.

02 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.

imp. & p. p. Luffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Luffing

1.
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.(Naut.)
2.
To flutter or shake from being aligned close to the direction of the wind; -- said of a sail.(Naut.)

Phrases & compounds

To luff round — to make the extreme of this movement, for the purpose of throwing the ship's head into the wind.