Meaning

noun a sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecock

noun a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail

noun an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish

originFrom Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe. Etymology 1, noun sense 5 apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0