1 The forward edge of a sail 2 To alter course so that the boat sails closer to the wind or turns into the wind 3 A sail luffs when the wind backs it close to the luff, i e when the boat is pointed too close to the wind or when the sail is not trimmed in far enough
sailing close to the wind flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; "the sails luffed" sail close to the wind In a lucky manner; by good fortune; fortunately; used in a good sense; as, they luckily escaped injury
The weather-gauge The part of a vessel towards the wind A sailing close to the wind (Dutch, loef, a weather-gauge ) To luff is to turn the head of a ship towards the wind Luff!- i e Put the tiller on the leeside This is done to make the ship sail nearer the wind Luff round! Throw the ship's head right into the wind Luff a-lee! Same as luff round A ship is said to spring her luff when she yields to the helm by sailing nearer the wind Keep the luff The wind side
To bring a vessel's head nearer to the wind, so the sails start to spill wind, by putting the helm down or increasing the sail area toward the stern Also the order--as in "luff round!" or "luff up!"--to throw the ship's head into the wind in order to tack