Etymologically
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gaffe

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Pronunciation

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]
  • 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)