reef

reef
\ \ English has two words reef, which both come from the same source, but have reached the language via different routes. That source was Old Norse rif ‘rib’, a close relative of English rib. Amongst its metaphorical senses were ‘horizontal section of sail’, which English acquired in the 14th century via Middle Dutch rif as riff, later reef, and ‘underwater ridge of rock’, which came into English in the 16th century via Middle Low German ref. The former was put to verbal use in the 17th century in the sense ‘furl sails’, which may underlie reefer ‘marijuana cigarette’ [20] – perhaps a ‘furled’ cigarette.
\ \ Cf.⇒ RIB

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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Synonyms:
(sail)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Reef — Reef, n. [Akin to D. reef, G. reff, Sw. ref; cf. Icel. rif reef, rifa to basten together. Cf. {Reeve}, v. t., {River}.] (Naut.) That part of a sail which is taken in or let out by means of the reef points, in order to adapt the size of the sail… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Reef — (r[=e]f), n. [Akin to D. rif, G. riff, Icel. rif, Dan. rev; cf. Icel. rifa rift, rent, fissure, rifa to rive, bear. Cf. {Rift}, {Rive}.] 1. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See {Coral reefs}, under {Coral}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Reef — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Reef puede referirse a: Reef, banda de rock de los 90. Reef, compañía de articulos para surfistas. Obtenido de Reef Categoría: Wikipedia:Desambiguación …   Wikipedia Español

  • Reef — (Петра,Греция) Категория отеля: Адрес: Petra, Петра, 81109, Греция Описание …   Каталог отелей

  • Reef — Reef, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reefed} (r[=e]ft); p. pr. & vb. n. {Reefing}.] (Naut.) To reduce the extent of (as a sail) by rolling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar. Totten. [1913 Webster] {To reef the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • reef|er — reef|er1 «REE fuhr», noun. 1. a person who reefs. 2. a short coat of thick cloth, worn especially by sailors and fishermen. 3. Informal. a midshipman. 4. a long scarf or muffler. reef|er2 «REE fuhr», noun. U.S. Slang. a cigarette containing… …   Useful english dictionary

  • reef|y — «REE fee», adjective, reef|i|er, reef|i|est. 1. marked by reefs or rocks: »the reefy entrance to a harbor. 2. characterized by reefs: »a reefy coast …   Useful english dictionary

  • Reef — Allgemeine Informa …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • reef — [n] underwater or partially submerged ledge atoll, bank, bar, beach, cay, coral reef, ridge, rock, rock barrier, sand bar, shoal, skerry; concept 509 …   New thesaurus

  • Reef — Reef, 1) (Reefbanden), an den Segeln (mit Ausnahme der leichten, welche bloß bei mäßigem Winde geführt werden können, die man aber bei zunehmendem Winde sogleich bergen muß) eine Einrichtung, daß sie kleiner gemacht werden können; die Arbeit… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Reef [1] — Reef, im Seewesen, soviel wie Reff (s. d.) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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