Where does “gaffe” come from?

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

gaffe (Italian): plural of gaffa; gaffe, blunder, boob

Definitions

  1. plural of gaffa; gaffe, blunder, boob

Ancestry of “gaffe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italiangaffagaff
2Middle Frenchgaffe—
3Old Occitangafhook; clasp
4Old Occitangafarto seize; to grab
Every word from Old Occitan gafar →Every word from Old Occitan gaf →Every word from Middle French gaffe →