How to Use gaff in a Sentence

gaff

noun
  • Ito rushed in with the gaff, helping to clear his way through the crowd.
    — Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2022
  • The pole pulled out of the gaff hook and Maxwell’s friends pulled tight on the rope.
    — Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
  • As soon as my dad reached over to grab that monster with the gaff hook, the fish’s mouth opened and the hook fell out.
    — Idaho Statesman, 2 Mar. 2016
  • That starts with careful gaff placement to avoid ruining meat.
    — Tom Fowlks, Outdoor Life, 1 Feb. 2024
  • Then Maxwell’s hooks pulled free and Michie was left trying to hold the shark with only the gaff.
    — Donald Millus, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
  • Spurs on some of the chickens were cut excessively short to fit steel fighting gaffs and blades for more lethal fighting, deputies said.
    — Timia Cobb, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Cockfighting draws scrutiny, too, with homes searched for steroids or gaffs — the sharp blades that get strapped to a fighting rooster’s feet.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Half an hour later Denio had worked the fish up from the bottom near their boat, where crew members sunk a large flying gaff into it.
    — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Finally, when the huge tuna rolled belly-up on the surface, Flory stuck it cleanly with a hand gaff and got a rope around its tail.
    — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Crowe leaped from the boat with a fishing gaff and, after several fumbles, managed to flip the trembling, bloodied creature onto the bow deck.
    — Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Videos of every speech, impromptu press conference and gaff circulate on social media.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Finally, a mysterious shot reveals someone putting stuff away, including the compass and a gaff hook.
    — Jean Bentley, refinery29.com, 29 Sep. 2021
  • Transport boxes, electronic scales and gaffs, sharp blades that can be attached to roosters' legs during fights, were found on the property, the news statement said.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Anglers need both an angling license and a recreational turtle license to harvest turtles using angling gear like hook and line, landing nets and gaff hooks.
    — Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The rooster’s gaff, a sharp blade fixed to its leg for fighting, somehow cut through the officer’s femoral artery, BBC News reported.
    — Fox News, 28 Oct. 2020
  • But, despite those gaffs, robotics firms pressed on and now several believe their walking machines could work alongside human manufacturing workers in only a few short years.
    — Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
  • View Photos Several internal modifications have also helped the 301 stand the gaff of nine pounds of boost.
    — Don Sherman, Car and Driver, 1 May 2023
  • The designer makes accessible, gender-affirming clothing, including chest binders and tucking or gaff underwear, which is meant to hide genitalia.
    — Sara Radin, refinery29.com, 29 July 2020
  • Ensure access to clothing and toiletry items consistent with a person’s gender identity, and facilitate access to gender-affirming items such as binders, wigs, and gaffs.
    — Emily Barnes, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2023
  • Lawful fishing methods include artificial lights, bait, bow fishing, crayfish, dip nets, drop-shotting, gaffs, hand nets, hook-and-line fishing, hoop nets, spearing and minnows for personal use.
    — Mika Travis, Detroit Free Press, 26 July 2023
  • The occasional odd campaign moment and foot-in-mouth gaff didn't help – neither did Jordan getting top honors from his fellow thespians at the Actor Awards.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
  • That wasn’t the only reason Harvey was at the center of Twitterverse this week though, as the host essentially solidified a drinking game out of his now-notorious gaff.
    — Amber Dowling, Variety, 15 Dec. 2021
  • Privacy and cybersecurity training are supposed to prevent costly and embarrassing employee gaffs.
    — Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Monday, the frontman, 73, recalled the gaff, explaining that he was sent a tune written by the legendary folk-rock singer during the heyday of Lewis' band, Huey Lewis and the News, but never acted on it.
    — Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
  • After an embarrassing administrative gaff, a few zany candidates, and nationwide anticipation, New York City’s final vote tally for the mayoral primaries is in.
    — Time, 10 July 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gaff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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