Where does “gaffe” come from?

gaffe (French) comes from Old Occitan gaf, from Old Occitan gafar — to seize; to grab.

gaffe (French): gaffe, blunder, goof-up North American, cock-up British

Definitions

  1. gaffe, blunder, goof-up North American, cock-up British

Ancestry of “gaffe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Occitangafhook; clasp
2Old Occitangafarto seize; to grab

Words derived from “gaffe”

Every word from Old Occitan gafar →Every word from Old Occitan gaf →
gaffe — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer