WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Reef (rf)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Akin to D. rif, G. riff, Icel. rif, Dan. rev; cf. Icel. rifa rift, rent, fissure, rifa to rive, bear. Cf. Rift, Rive.]
Definition : 1. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under Coral.

2. (Mining.)

Defn: A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. Reef builder (Zo?l.), any stony coral which contributes material to the formation of coral reefs. -- Reef heron (Zo?l.), any heron of the genus Demigretta; as, the blue reef heron (D.jugularis) of Australia.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Reef
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Akin to D. reef, G. reff, Sw. ref; cf. Icel. rif reef, rifa to basten together. Cf. Reeve, v. t., River.] (Naut.)
Definition : Defn: 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 to the force of the wind.

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. Totten. Close reef, the last reef that can be put in. -- Reef band. See Reef-band in the Vocabulary. -- Reef knot, the knot which is used in tying reef pointss. See Illust. under Knot. -- Reef line, a small rope formerly used to reef the courses by being passed spirally round the yard and through the holes of the reef. Totten. -- Reef pioints, pieces of small rope passing through the eyelet holes of a reef-band, and used reefing the sail. -- Reef tackle, a tackle by which the reef cringles, or rings, of a sail are hauled up to the yard for reefing. Totten. -- To take a reef in, to reduce the size of (a sail) by folding or rolling up a reef, and lashing it to the spar.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Reef
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To reduce the extent of (as a sail) by roiling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar. Totten. To reef the paddles, to move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.

t. [imp. & p. p. Reefed (reft); p. pr. & vb. n. Reefing.] (Naut.)
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913