Etymology Map
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Gaffe

3 stages from Provençal to English.

Today it means an embarrassing mistake

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

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

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.