gaffe English · revision 2201

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡæf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|gaffe|t=blunder]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) probably a special use of ''gaffe'' “boat hook”,^(RHWU)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) from Old Provençal ''gaf'' or ''gafar'' “to seize”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) of Germanic origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is the same word as English ''gaff'' “hook”.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The connection between the hook and the blunder is obscure,^(Etymonline) and Etymonline also allows British slang ''gaff'' “to cheat” or “loud rude talk”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A blunder, an instance of clumsy stupidity, a faux pas (1909).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word has kept the meaning it had when it was borrowed,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and is used especially of social or diplomatic blunders, often made in public.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1909 – a blunder, a faux pas.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A clumsy social or diplomatic blunder; a faux pas.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A noticeable mistake or misjudgment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gaff]]

+ * [[faux pas]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}