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Gaffer vs Gaffe - What's the difference?

gaffer | gaffe |

As nouns the difference between gaffer and gaffe

is that gaffer is rubberneck (undesired spectator a scene of crime or accident) while gaffe is coffee.

gaffer

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) + (-er). The natural lighting on early film sets was adjusted by opening and closing flaps in the tent cloths, called gaff cloths or gaff flaps.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (film) A chief lighting technician for a motion-picture or television production.
  • A glassblower.
  • * 2003 , Jennifer Bosveld, Glass Works (page 18)
    • The apprentice carries a gather of glass on the blowpipe to the gaffer' s bench
    Related terms
    * gaffer tape

    Etymology 2

    Likely a contraction of (godfather), but with the vowels influenced by (grandfather). Compare (etyl) , (etyl) gevatter.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (colloquial) An old man.
  • (British) A foreman.
  • An "Old Gaffer" is a sailor.
  • In Maritime regions "the Little Gaffer" is the baby in the house.
    • Synonyms
    * See also
    Related terms
    * gammer

    References

    * ----

    gaffe

    English

    Alternative forms

    * gaff

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one made in public.

    • Synonyms

    * blooper, blunder, boo-boo, bozo eruption, defect, error, fault, faux pas, fluff, lapse, mistake, slip, stumble, thinko * See also

    See also

    * malapropism * Freudian slip * Bushism ----