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prettygoodwordloof (LOOF) - n., (Scot.) the palm of the hand; (naut.) the after part of the bow of a ship where the sides begin to curve.
Both usages now rare, though the nautical sense is rarer. The nautical sense comes from the anatomic sense, via an obsolete and obscure device for steering a vessel (apparently some sort of oar), and while it's strongly suspected the palm sense dates back to Old English, it is not attested in English until Middle English -- but there are cognates all over, include Old Norse lōfi, Gothic lófa, and modern glove.
---L.
Both usages now rare, though the nautical sense is rarer. The nautical sense comes from the anatomic sense, via an obsolete and obscure device for steering a vessel (apparently some sort of oar), and while it's strongly suspected the palm sense dates back to Old English, it is not attested in English until Middle English -- but there are cognates all over, include Old Norse lōfi, Gothic lófa, and modern glove.
---L.
