the order from the pilot to the steerman to put the helm towards the lee-side of the ship, in order to make the ship fall nearer the direction of the wind. Hence, luff round, or luff a-lee, is the excess of this movement, by which it is intended to throw the ship's head up in the wind, in order to tack her, &c. A ship is accordingly said to spring her luff when she yields to the effort of the helm, by falling nearer to the line of the wind than she had done before. See also HAULING the Wind.

LUFF-Tackle, a name given by sailors to any large tackle that is not destined for a particular place, but may be variably employed as occasion requires. It is generally somewhat larger than the jigger tackle, although smaller than those which serve to hoist the heavier materials into and out of the vessel, which latter are the main and fore tackles, the stay and quarter tackles, &c.

LUG-SAIL, a square sail, hoisted occasionally on the mast of a boat or small vessel upon a yard which hangs nearly at right angles with the mast. These are more particularly used in the barca longas, navigated by the Spaniards in the Mediterranean.