Meaning and Origin
What does the name Reef mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
User Submitted Origins
User Submitted Meanings
- A submission from France says the name Reef means "Reef is for the reef, like in the coral reef".
- According to a user from the United Kingdom, the name Reef is of English origin and means "Lovable considerate caring of others".
- A submission from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines says the name Reef means "Freindly" and is of English origin.
- A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under Coral.
- [Mining] A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.
Etymology: Akin to D. rif, G. riff, Icel. rif, Dan. rev; cf. Icel. rifa rift, rent, fissure, rifa to rive, bear. Cf. Rift Rive
Note: ☞ From the head to the first reef-band, in square sails, is termed the first reef; from this to the next is the second reef; and so on. In fore-and-aft sails, which reef on the foot, the first reef is the lowest part.
Etymology: Akin to D. reef, G. reff, Sw. ref; cf. Icel. rif reef, rifa to basten together. Cf. Reeve (v. t.) River
- One of several strips across a sail that can be taken in or rolled up to lessen the area of the sail that is exposed to the wind
- A rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese
- A submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
- Reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef
- Roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area
- Lower and bring partially inboard ("reef the sailboat's mast")
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.
- (Now chiefly dialectal) The itch; any eruptive skin disorder.
- (Now chiefly dialectal) Dandruff.
From earlier riff, from Middle English rif, from Old Norse rif (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Germanic *ribją (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Indo-European *rebh- (“arch, ceiling, cover”). Cognate with Dutch rif (“reef”), Low German riff, reff (“reef”), German Riff (“reef, ledge”), Old English ribb (“rib”). More at rib.
- A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water.
- (Australia, South Africa) A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.
- (nautical) A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind.
- A reef knot.
reef was also found in the following language(s): Dutch