Etymology From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1, noun sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.
1
A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.
When Leonard finally hauls up a cod of seventy-five centimeters, probably seven years old, a typical catch ten years ago, they all joke, "Oh my God, get the gaff!"1997, Mark Kurlansky, Cod: a Biography of the Fish That Changed the World:
2
A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe.
We politely ignored his gaff.
3
A trick or con.
The sideshow feat was just a gaff, but the audience was too proud to admit they'd been fooled.
4
Nautical, Transport The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
5
A type of tight, panty-like underwear worn to hold the penis and testicles tucked backwards and make one's genital region look smooth, as if one had a vulva.
This may sound strange to readers who know little about nudes but many female impersonators, or femme-mimics, work au naturel—except for a gaff, a bra, body makeup, jewelry, and a wig (on their head). See! Semi-nude!!1964, Kenneth Marlowe, Mr. Madam: Confessions of a Male Madam, Los Angeles: Sherbourne Press, →LCCN, page 17:
Sissy maids may be required to wear a gaff to disguise the male genitals, and a dominant may wish a slave to wear it on a daily basis.1996, Christina Abernathy, Miss Abernathy's Concise Slave Training Manual, San Francisco: Greenery Press, →ISBN, page 35:
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Vicky is a pre-operative MTF transsexual […] Wearing feminine underwear over her gaff in bed helps her to redefine her absence of female genitalia during sex (sexuality) in terms of it being her 'time of the month', as she jokes to Sean [her first boyfriend].2006, Richard Ekins, Dave King, The Transgender Phenomenon, Sage Publications, →ISBN, page 227:
Etymology From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1, noun sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.
1
To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.
I stepped out and advanced valiantly upon a long-maned bull in the midst of his wives. I was armed with the regular club with which the boat-pullers killed the wounded seals gaffed aboard by the hunters.1904, Jack London, chapter 30, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:
2
To cheat or hoax.
3
To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes.
When the operator began losing, he gaffed the wheel and then the patron had no chance to win. With his secret device an experienced grifter could stop the wheel at will on any number.1993, Betty Lou Wolfe, Marian Jean Gray, The Way We Were: Reflections from the 1930's, page 23:
However, this apathy will quickly disappear if it is learned the friendly game involves marked (gaffed) cards.1977, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, volume 46, number 9, page 8:
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You will be using gaffed cards: a double faced card.1989, Penn & Teller's Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends, page 96:
4
Obsolete, Slang To gamble, especially by tossing coins.
5
Informal To affix gaffer tape to, or cover with gaffer tape.
I gaffed down the sleeves to my lens hoods instead of just relying on the drawstring to hold it in place.2013 July 19, Kai-Huei Yau, “Shoot before you dye”, in Tri-City Herald, archived from the original on 20 Feb 2020:
Etymology Perhaps from Old English gafsprǣc (“buffoonery, scurrility; blasphemous or ribald speech”), from Old English gaf (“base, vile, lewd”) + Old English sprǣc (“language, speech, talk”). Compare Old English gaffetung, gafettung (“scoffing, mockery, derision”).
1
Rough or harsh treatment; criticism.
"Numbers one, two, and five engines have broken down, sir," he called. "Shall we force the remaining three?" / "We can do nothing else," I bellowed into the transmitter. / "They won't stand the gaff, sir," he returned. / "Can you suggest a better plan?" I asked. / "No, sir," he replied. / "Then give them the gaff, lieutenant," I shouted back, and hung up the receiver.1916, Edgar Rice Burrows, Beyond Thirty (aka The Lost Continent), HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2008:
Etymology Unknown. Possibly from Etymology 1, via a sense of “a place that will be robbed” in criminal argot; possibly from Etymology 2, via a sense of "cheap theatre"; possibly from Romani gav (“village”) (whence German Kaff (“village”)).
We're going round to Mike's gaff later to watch the footie.
"Steady on, mate. How was I to know this was your gaff? I was lookin' for somewhere to kip."1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 56:
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And like I said, I was so fuck-faced that I forgot I'd moved and let myself back into my old gaff.1993, Tristan Hawkins, Pepper, London: Flamingo, →ISBN, page 106:
Am I alone in feeling smug (if slatternly) about the news that super-clean homes are a breeding ground for infection? Apparently, all that bleach is bad not just for germs but for children's immune systems, too, and paradoxically causes more disease than it prevents. Not round my gaff. Oh no. My standards of housekeeping are so abysmally low that my eldest daughter was three years old before she even developed a temperature.2015 April 4, Judith Woods, “I knew it! Spring cleaning is bad for your family's health [print version: Vindicated at last! It's healthier to be a slatternly housewife, p. 28]”, in The Daily Telegraph, archived from the original on 09 Apr 2015:
Man will enter the gaf with crown Gun shot spin his head right round2019 April 30, “The Godfather”, Ink (lyrics), 0:37–0:40:
The term ‘free gaf’ is music to any teenage ears in Dublin, while the term ‘wreak the gaf’ should fill any parent with dread. The term ‘gaf’ means ‘house,’ so when parents are away […]2019 November 7, Erike Sanker, “20 mad Dublin slang phrases that only make sense to locals”, in Ireland Before You Die (IB4UD):
Significantly, the setting is a gaff, a low, illegal theatre, and not one of the legitimate East-End stages.2004, Kerry Powell, The Cambridge Companion to Victorian and Edwardian Theatre, page 273: