gaffe

Where does the word "gaffe" come from? It comes from Provençal gaff, passing through French before entering English (1900s).

Gaffe’s story begins in Provençal: gaff meant “hook.” A Provençal word for a boat hook. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as gaffe. French slang for a blunder. It reached English by 1900s as gaffe. Became a favourite word of British political reporting. Today, gaffe means an embarrassing mistake.

1. Stage 1 · Provençal · medieval gaff "hook", a Provençal word for a boat hook.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1800s gaffe "blunder", French slang for a blunder.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s gaffe "social blunder", became a favourite word of British political reporting.