Where does “gaff” come from?
Gaff comes from Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf and gafar, of uncertain ultimate origin.
gaff (English): A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a...
Definitions
- A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a...
Ancestry of “gaff”, step by step
gaff traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Romani gav
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romani | gav | village |
| 2 | Sauraseni Prakrit | 𑀕𑀸𑀫 | — |
| 3 | Sanskrit | ग्राम | an inhabited place, village, hamlet, settlement;... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | grā́mas | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | grā́mas | village, town; community |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ger- | to gather; flock, herd |
via Old English gafsprǣc
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | gafsprǣc | buffoonery, scurrility; blasphemous or ribald... |