Pronunciation: [lˈʌfs] (IPA) 
The word "luffs" is spelled with two "f's" at the end, despite the fact that it is pronounced with only one "f" sound. This is because the word is derived from the nautical term "to luff," which means to turn into the wind. The spelling of "luffs" reflects its historical origins and its association with sailing. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word can be represented as /lʌfs/.
Luffs is a nautical term referring to a sailing maneuver in which a sailboat turns toward the wind in order to slow down or change direction. Luffs is primarily used when describing the action of a sail that is positioned too far out into the wind, causing it to flap violently and lose its shape. This occurs when the boat is sailing upwind and the wind catches the sail from the wrong side, preventing it from maintaining a stable position.
When a sail luffs, it flutters and shakes as the wind passes through it chaotically, creating a loud noise similar to a flag flapping in the wind. This can happen with any type of sail, including mainsails or jibs, and it is most commonly seen in sailing races or other situations that require precise control over the boat's speed and direction.
The term "luffs" can also be used as a verb to describe the action of deliberately altering the course of a sailboat by turning towards the wind, thus causing the sails to luff. This maneuver is often employed to slow down or stop a sailboat quickly, or to change direction rapidly. Skilled sailors use luffs strategically as part of their sailing tactics, taking advantage of the wind direction and the boat's response to optimize performance and maintain control on the water.
The word "luffs" is derived from the nautical term "luff", which refers to the action of a sailing vessel when its sail or sails start to flap or flutter due to the wind coming from too much in the front. This can lead to a loss of forward motion or control of the vessel. "Luff" originates from Middle Dutch "loef", meaning "windward", which can be further traced back to the Old High German word "loufa". This word ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic word "hlūbōną", meaning "to windward". The use of "luffs" as a verb to describe this action or state of the sail(s) is a later development.
