Gaff

A spar which projects abaft a mast, and to which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent. That part of the gaff which is near the mast is called the throat, and the outer end of the spar is named the peak. It is hoisted by throat and peak halliards. The jaws are the two horns bolted one on each side of the inner end of the spar to keep it to the mast. The rollers are the little wooden wheels on the forward side of the mast, which are strung on a jaw span or jaw rope made fast through holes bored in the forward extreme end of the jaws. This span prevents the gaff from unshipping with a fore-and-aft motion, and the rollers do not permit the span to jam against the mast when the gaff is being hoisted or lowered. (See Railways.)