gaffling

Verb (1)

gaffle (third-person singular simple present gaffles, present participle gaffling, simple past and past participle gaffled)

1. To equip with a gaffle or similar weapon.
   • Now, sword or dagger, human arms are but artifical claws and fangs, tied on like false spurs to the fighting cock. So, we repeat, Oberlus, czar of the isle, gaffles his four subjects; that is, with intent of glory, puts four rusty cutlasses into their hands.1854, Herman Melville., The Encantadas, or Enchanted Isles
2. to include a gaffle in an orienteering race.

Verb (2)

gaffle (third-person singular simple present gaffles, present participle gaffling, simple past and past participle gaffled)

1. To grab or seize
   • They would grapple till they were tired, then stop; but as soon as one would start for the bears the other would gaffle him again.1949, Chase Salmon Osborn, Stellanova Osborn, Northwoods Sketches, page 29
2. To get hold of, to find.
   • Ye see, he knew there wasn't barely enough grazing for him on that oasis, and a short supply of dates for me, and he had gaffled onto that place and warn't going to let go for no black feller nor yet yeller.1905, Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards, The Armstrongs, page 197
3. To arrest for criminal activity.
   • Most forgers were “drunken checkers," men who had forged checks at taverns, although now and then someone would arrive who had hung a great deal of paper before getting gaffled.1953, Tom Runyon, In for Life, a Convict's Story, page 9696
4. To steal
   • I presume that one of them walked out to the back end to see if any one had been trespassing, and finding my trap had gaffled it.1906, Hunter-trader-trapper - Volume 10, page 73

See all 12 meanings of gaffle