reef

Meanings

Noun

• A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
• A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.
• A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind.
• A reef knot.
• The itch; any eruptive skin disorder.
• Dandruff.

Verb

• To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.
• To pull or yank strongly, especially in relation to horse riding.
• To move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.
• To manipulate the lining of a person's pocket in order to steal the contents unnoticed.

Adjective

• Scabby; scurvy.

Origin

• From earlier riff, from Middle English rif, from Old Norse rif, from Proto-Germanic *ribją, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ-. Dutch rif ("reef"), Low German riff, reff, German Riff ("reef, ledge") are also borrowed from Old Norse. rib.
• From Middle English ref, hreof, from Old English hrēof ("rough, scabby, leprous", also "a leper"), from Proto-Germanic *hreubaz ("rough, scabby, scrubby"), from Proto-Indo-European *kreup- ("scab, crust"), related to Old English hrēofla ("leprosy, leper"). Cognate with Scots reif ("a skin disease leaving crusts on the skin, the scab"), Old High German riob ("leprous, scabby, mangy"), Icelandic hrjúfur ("scabby, rough"). Compare riffe, dandruff.