Meaning of luff

(noun) (nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast

the act of sailing close to the wind

(adj) capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner; "a lucid thinker"; "she was more coherent than she had been just after the accident"

(verb) flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides; "the sails luffed"