gaffe

Alternative forms

• gaff

Etymology

From French gaffe (“blunder”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ɡæf/
• Rhymes: -æf

Noun

gaffe (plural gaffes)

1. A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one made in public.

See also

• malapropism
• Freudian slip
• Bushism

Etymology

From Old Occitan gaf (“clasp”), from Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍆𐌰𐌷 (gafah, “clasp”), from *𐌲𐌰- (ga-) (intensifier) + 𐍆𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽 (fahan, “to catch”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡaf/

Noun 1

gaffe f (plural gaffes)

1. gaffe, blunder, goof-up (North American), cock-up (British)

Noun 2

gaffe f (plural gaffes)

1. (nautical) boathook

Further reading

• “gaffe” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Verb

gaffe

1. First-person singular present of gaffen.
2. Imperative singular of gaffen.
3. First-person singular subjunctive I of gaffen.
4. Third-person singular subjunctive I of gaffen.

Noun

gaffe f

1. plural of gaffa

Noun

gaffe f (invariable)

1. gaffe, blunder, boob