Definition of "luffing" [luffing]

• Present participle of luff. (verb)

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• "But a really wicked white squall {110} requires luffing, that is, bringing her head so close to the wind that it will strike her at the acutest angle possible without losing its pressure in the right direction altogether."
• "A puff of wind was heeling the boat over till the deck was awash, and he, one hand on tiller and the other on main-sheet, was luffing slightly, at the same time peering ahead to make out the near-lying north shore."
• "Every needful thing and needless thing piled on tabletops beneath the luffing blue canvas."