The Collaborative International Dictionary
Luff \Luff\ (l[u^]f), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Luffed (l[u^]ft); p. pr. & vb. n. Luffing.]
(Naut.) To turn the head of a vessel toward the wind; to sail nearer the wind; to turn the tiller so as to make the vessel sail nearer the wind.
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(Naut.) To flutter or shake from being aligned close to the direction of the wind; -- said of a sail.
To luff round, or To luff alee, to make the extreme of this movement, for the purpose of throwing the ship's head into the wind.
Wiktionary
vb. (en-past of: luff)
Usage examples of "luffed".
When we were fifty yards away I paid off four points to bring the starboard guns to bear, gave her the broadside, then luffed up directly and gave her the other, from perhaps twenty yards.
She luffed up - we thought to engage us, of course - and we both got off a few broadsides, but she sank .
I've just luffed up to leeward of him and his breath doesn't smell of drink.
At daybreak they had borne down on the schooner and then luffed up, keeping station on her as if she was a flagship and they the two frigates.