reef English · revision 16161

+ Both English words ''reef'' come from [[non|rif|t=rib]], but by different routes: one names a ridge of rock, the other a strip of sail.^(Ayto 2005)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹiːf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|ridge of rock}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1579|origins=non rif}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The ridge of rock is early modern [[bor|nl|riffe]] (modern [[m|nl|rif]]) and Middle Low German [[m|gml|rif]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from a Scandinavian source like [[non|rif|t=rib; ridge in the sea]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026) related to ''[[rib]]''.^(Etymonline)^(Ayto 2005)^(Klein 1966) The English form was [[m|en|riff]] at first.^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A ridge of rock, sand or shingle at or near the surface of the water: 1579 in the OED,^(OED 2026) 1584 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figuratively a reef is a hidden hazard on which a plan may founder, from 1841.^(OED 2026) Australian gold miners used it from 1852 for a vein of gold-bearing quartz,^(OED 2026)^(Weekley 1921) and in South Africa the ''Reef'' is the gold-mining region of the Witwatersrand (1903).^(OED 2026) It was extended to low coral islands and to raised areas of the sea bottom.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1579 – a ridge of rock near the surface.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1841 – figurative, a hidden hazard.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1852 – a vein of gold-bearing quartz (Australia).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1903 – ''the Reef'', the Witwatersrand.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A ridge of rock, sand or [[coral]] at or just below the surface of the sea.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A vein of [[ore]], especially gold-bearing [[quartz]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ {{homograph|2|part of a sail}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1336–37, rifrope|origins=non rif}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The part of a sail is [[inh|enm|riff]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) from a Scandinavian source like [[non|rif|t=reef of a sail]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) probably the same word as ''rif'' "rib, ridge" in a transferred use;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Hoad and SOED take it through Middle Dutch [[m|dum|rif]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The OED instead derives the Scandinavian word from the base of [[m|non|rífa|t=to tear]], as a strip of fabric.^(OED 2026) The spelling ''reef'' dates from 1667.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the compound ''rifrope'', a rope for tying down a reef: 1336–37, in a naval account;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026) ''riff'' alone before 1393, in Gower.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to take in a reef, is from 1667–70.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) ''To take in a reef'', figuratively to proceed more cautiously, is from before 1547,^(OED 2026) and a tuck in a garment or belt from 1840.^(OED 2026) ''[[reefer]]'', a close-fitting jacket, is from the 19th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1336–37 – ''rifrope''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1393 – ''riff'', a reef of a sail.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1547 – figurative, ''take in a reef''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1667 – the spelling ''reef''; the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A part of a [[sail]] that can be rolled or folded up to reduce its area in strong winds.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To reduce the area of a sail by taking in a reef.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reefer]]

+ * [[reef knot]]

+ * [[reef point]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rib]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}