gaffe

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɡaf/^[1]

Forms

gaffe f (plural gaffes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old Occitan gaf (“hook, pole”),^[2][3][4][5] from gafar (“to seize”).^[2][6] Bloch and Wartburg trace the Occitan verb, also found as Spanish gafar and Portuguese gafar, to Gothic *gaffōn (“to seize”);^[4][6] Wiktionary instead gives Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍆𐌰𐌷 (gafah, “clasp”).^[1] Guiraud proposed instead Old Occitan gafar “to ford, wade”, which would explain both the pole for crossing a ford and the blundering of someone wading in mud.^[3][6]

The sense “blunder” (1872) comes from the verb gaffer in the sense “to commit an indelicacy”, which Bloch and Wartburg think grew up in boatmen's speech.^[4][7][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1393, and in 1455 a document describes “a stick called a gaffe, with an iron hook at the end”.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

The boathook sense has stayed in nautical and fishing use, including a hook for landing large fish.^[7][8] Sailors' slang had avaler sa gaffe “to swallow one's boathook”, that is, to die.^[8][9]

The familiar sense “clumsy, tactless act or remark” appears in 1872, from gaffer “to blunder”, with gaffeur following in 1888.^[4][7] Separately, slang gaffer “to keep watch” (1829) gave faire gaffe “to watch out” (1926).^[3][5]

Timeline

• 1393 – First record of the word.^[2][4]
• 1455 – A gaffe is described as a staff with an iron hook.^[2][8]
• 1687 – The verb gaffer “to hook with a gaffe”.^[3][4]
• 1872 – Gaffe “blunder” is recorded.^[4][7]
• 1926 – Faire gaffe “to be careful”.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (familiar) A blunder, a tactless or ill-timed act or remark.^[5][10]
2. (nautical) A boathook, a pole with a hook and point used to handle a boat.^[5][11]
3. (fishing) A gaff for landing large fish.^[7]
4. Faire gaffe (familiar): to watch out, be careful.^[5][11]

Related words

• English gaffe
• English gaff

Usage notes

Faire gaffe “to watch out” and slang un gaffe “prison warder” come from gaffer “to keep watch”;^[3] Rey links this gaffer to an older slang gaffre “sergeant” and German gaffen (“to gape”).^[3][5]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)