Pronunciation: [wˈʌlf] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "wulff" may cause confusion due to its unique pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription for "wulff" is /wʊlf/. The "w" is pronounced as "wuh," while the "u" is pronounced as "uh." The double "f" at the end is silent, making this word distinct from the more common "wolf" with a single "f." Despite its uncommon spelling, "wulff" refers to the same animal as "wolf" and can be used interchangeably.
Wulff is a term that has multiple meanings depending on the context. In biology, wulff refers to a specific genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, commonly known as the wulffs. These small to medium-sized butterflies are characterized by their colorful wings, often adorned with intricate patterns and markings. They are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in Asia.
In engineering and materials science, wulff is a term that describes a geometric shape commonly used to represent the crystallographic orientation of a solid material. The wulff shape is a convex polyhedron that represents the equilibrium shape of a crystal under specific conditions. It is defined by the crystal lattice structure and the surface energy of the material.
In sports, particularly ice hockey, wulff refers to a specific type of shot. A wulff shot is a technique in which a player uses a quick flick of the wrist to shoot the puck with a snap-like motion. This technique allows for a rapid release and can catch goalies off guard due to its speed and agility. The wulff shot is often used for quick, accurate shots in close quarters or as a deking maneuver to deceive the goaltender.
Overall, the term "wulff" can have different meanings depending on the context, ranging from a genus of butterflies to a geometric shape representing crystallographic orientation or a specific type of shot in ice hockey.
The word "wulff" is believed to have originated from the Germanic language family, specifically from the Old High German word "wulf" (later becoming "wolf" in modern German). This Germanic root can also be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*wulfaz", which in turn can be traced further back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*wĺ̥kʷos". This ancient root is shared by several other Indo-European languages, such as Old English "wulf", Old Norse "úlfr", Latin "lupus", and Greek "lýkos", all of which mean "wolf". The word "wulff" has since been adopted into English, typically referring to the family name of individuals.
