Where does “gaffe” come from?

Gaffe comes from French gaffe, derived from Old Occitan gaf, itself from Old Occitan gafar, meaning to seize or grab.

gaffe (English): A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one...

Definitions

  1. A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one...

Ancestry of “gaffe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchgaffegaffe, blunder, goof-up North American, cock-up British
2Old Occitangafhook; clasp
3Old Occitangafarto seize; to grab
Every word from Old Occitan gafar →Every word from Old Occitan gaf →Every word from French gaffe →