One of the characters comments on another's "aloofness".
It occurred to me that I had no idea as to the etymology of
"aloof".
Main Entry: 1aloof
Pronunciation: &-'lüf
Function: adverb
Etymology: obsolete aloof to windward, from 1a- + louf, luf luff
Date: circa 1540
: at a distance

Now I can't remember what sailing term "luff" means.