The word "gaffle" may seem confusing when it comes to its spelling. However, the easiest way to understand it is through its IPA phonetic transcription: /ɡæfəl/. This indicates that the first syllable is pronounced with a hard 'g' sound as in "go," followed by the /æ/ sound as in "cat," and ending with a short schwa /ə/ sound. Despite its odd spelling, "gaffle" is simply a variant form of "gaff," a fishing tool used to lift and handle heavy loads.