Decoding the Slang and Sailing Jargon: The Meaning of 'Guff' and More
The term 'guff' is quite the versatile word, with meanings that span from the colloquial to the esoteric. While it's commonly used in British slang, it can also be found in sailing terminology and even in serious discussions of writing and storytelling.
British Slang
One of the most common British slang uses of 'guff' refers to a rather unpleasant bodily function. When used among schoolboys, 'guff' often means breaking wind. This playful and humorous term can be a bit of a relief to use when discussing an embarrassing topic, as it adds a layer of levity. For example, if a schoolboy accidentally releases a strong odor, his peers might remark, 'What a stink! Who guffed?' or simply say, 'That stinks.' In a less direct context, 'guff' can also refer to trivial, irrelevant, or silly writing or speech. If someone is speaking or writing in a way that feels superfluous or nonsensical, you might comment, 'He talked a lot of stupid guff about the coronavirus conspiracy theory.'
A Cynical Way of Saying 'Farting'
'Guffed' is fondly used as a past tense form of 'guff,' meaning to fart. This term can be used in a light-hearted or sarcastic manner to avoid more direct or sensitive language. For example, 'Who guffed' or 'That stinks' can be uttered in response to someone who just let out a rather loud or disruptive flatulence.
Sailing Jargon
Transcending the realm of slang, 'guff' also holds a place in sailing jargon, primarily as a sailing term. 'Luff' is a term that originates from the Middle English word 'luff,' which meant 'hull.' According to Webster's Dictionary, 'luff' in sailing terms means to sail closer to the wind. 'Close to the wind' describes a situation where a vessel is sailing almost in the direction from which the wind is blowing. In a competitive context, 'luffing' your opponent in yacht racing means to strategically position yourself by sailing closer to the wind, thereby obstructing your opponent from getting the advantage on the windward side.
Sailing and Racing Terminology
In sailing, if the sails 'luff,' they flap noisily, usually as a result of turning too close to the wind beyond the point of 'optimum trim.' This term can also be used in a more technical way to refer to the action of raising and lowering the jibs, a term often seen in the context of cranes that support window cleaning cradles, as the arms move outward to lower the cradle down the facade of the building.
Other Meanings and Contexts
Beyond the realms of slang and sailing, 'guff' can have other meanings depending on the context. In the field of writing and literature, a 'guff' is often a term used to describe trivial or irrelevant writing or speech. Meanwhile, 'luff' (originally 'guff') has a specific meaning in the context of sailing jargon, referring to sails flapping when turned too close to the wind or in a specific sailing maneuver.
Historical Context and Modern Usage
The word 'luff' has an extensive history, stemming from the Middle English 'luff,' meaning 'hull.' From there, it evolved to become a term used in sailing. Similarly, the term 'puffin' refers to a seabird found in the Northern Hemisphere, with different species in the North Atlantic and Northern Pacific. On the other end of the linguistic spectrum, 'Macguffin' is a writer's or critic's term for a plot device often seen in suspense films. It's a term that indicates an object, goal, or deadline that propels the plot forward but may not be explicitly crucial to the story itself. This concept was famously popularized by Alfred Hitchcock, who often used Macguffins in his films.
In summary, 'guff' and 'luff' are words with multiple meanings, each rich in history and context, ranging from British slang and sailing jargon to writing and storytelling. The versatility of these terms highlights the diversity of language and how it adapts to different cultural and professional contexts.