gaffle

English

Pronunciation
  • Rhymes: -æfəl

Etymology 1

From Middle English gaffolle, a borrowing from Middle Dutch gaffel, gafel (“fork”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gabalō (“fork”), related to Old English gafol, ġeafel (“fork”).

Noun

gaffle (plural gaffles)

  1. (obsolete) A lever used to bend a crossbow.
  2. A steel spur attached to a gamecock.
  3. (historical, artillery) A portable fork of iron or wood in which the heavy musket formerly in use was rested that it might be accurately aimed and fired.

Etymology 2

Blend of gaff +‎ grapple.

Verb

gaffle (third-person singular simple present gaffles, present participle gaffling, simple past and past participle gaffled)

  1. To seize
  2. To steal
  3. To talk incessantly without a purpose, usually about inane or pointless topics; to banter.

References
  • OED 2nd edition 1989 (noun sense)
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