loof
Definitions
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- noun The palm of the hand; also, the hand itself.
- noun A contrivance (apparently a paddle or an oar) for altering the course of a ship.
- noun That part of a ship's bow where the sides begin to curve in toward the stem. See luff.
Examples
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The chief robber was undoubtedly an officer, said M'Fadyen, and besides the large wart over his eye, there were other marks which made him noticeable -- for example, "the little finger of his left hand bowed towards his loof."
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As we were standing apart thus, up to us came Ian Lorn, shaking the brogue-money he got from Grahame in his dirty loof.
John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn
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I put some silver pieces in the loof of my hand and held it before the woman, the transaction unnoticed by the company.
John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn
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"That's not reading the hand at all, goodwife," said I; "those small facts of life are never written in a line across the loof."
John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn
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And I kiss my loof to ye, Mr. Balfour, "says she, suiting the action to the word;" and a braw journey to ye back to where ye cam frae. "
Note
The word 'loof' ultimately comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to be flat'.
