tation of the term, may not be represented. The actors of a drama may not correspond in colloquy, only in pantomime; but the pieces brought out at the gaff are seldom of an intricate character, and the not over-fastidious auditory are well content with an exhibition of dumb-show and gesture.
1870. Orchestra, 18 Feb. The absolute harm done by these gaffs does not consist in the subjects represented.
1889. Notes and Queries, 7 S. vii., p. 395. I have often heard the British soldier make use of the word when speaking of the entertainment got up for his benefit in barracks.
3. (prison).—A hoax; an imposture. Cf., Fr., gaffe = joke, deceit.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 312. I also saw that Jemmy's blowing up of me wos all gaff. He knew as well as I did the things left the shop all right.
1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, p. 227. Can you put me up to this other gaff.
4. (old sharpers').—A ring worn by the dealer. [From gaffe = a hook.]
5. (American cock-pit).—A steel spur.
6. (anglers')—A landing spear, barbed in the iron.
Verb. (old).—1. To toss for liquor. See gaffing.
1823. Jon Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v.
2. (theatrical).—To play in a gaff (q.v. sense 2).
To blow the gaff, or gab (q.v.), verb. phr. (common). To give information; to let out a secret. For synonyms, see Peach.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. To blow the gab (cant), to confess, or impeach a confederate.
1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xliii. One of the French officers, after he was taken prisoner, axed me how we had managed to get the gun up there; but I wasn't going to blow the gaff.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 122. The prisoner, burning for revenge, quietly bides his time till the chief warder comes round, then asks to speak to him, and blows the gaff.
1891. Referee, 8 Mar. Under sacred promise not to blow the gaff I was put up to the method.
Gaffer, subs. (old).—1. An old
man; the masculine of Gammer
(q.v.). Also a title of address: e.g.,
'Good day, gaffer!' Cf.,
Uncle and Daddy. Also (see
quot. 1710), a husband.
1710. Dame Hurdle's Letter (quoted by Nares). My gaffer only said he would inform himself as well as he could against next election, and keep a good conscience.
1714. Gay, Shepherd's Week. For Gaffer Treadwell told us, by-the-bye, Excessive sorrow is exceeding dry.
1842. Tennyson, The Goose. Ran Gaffer, stumbled Gammer.
2. (common).—A master; an employer; a boss (q.v.); (athletic) a pedestrian trainer and 'farmer'; and (navvies') a gang-master or ganger (q.v.).
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., iv., 123. In comes our gaffer Underwood, And sits him on the bench.
1748. T. Dyche, Dict. (5th ed.) Gaffer (S.) a familiar word mostly used in the country for master.
1885. Daily News, 24 Jan., p. 3, c. 1. They go and work at fivepence, and some on 'em as low as threepence halfpenny, an hour; that's just half what we get, and the gaffers keep 'em on and sack us.
1888. Sportsman, 20 Dec. Comic enough were some of the stories 'Jemmy' told of his relations with 'the gaffer.'
1889. Broadside Ballad, 'The Gaffers of the Gang.' We are the boys that can do the excavations, We are the lads for the 'atin' and the dhrinkin', With the ladies we are so fascinatin', Because we are the gaffers of the gang.
