What is "reef"

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 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 points, 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.

Reef \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.

2. (Mining.) A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.

   Reef builder (Zo["o]l.), any stony coral which contributes material to the formation of coral reefs.

   Reef heron (Zo["o]l.), any heron of the genus Demigretta; as, the blue reef heron ( Demigretta jugularis) of Australia.

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.

To reef the paddles, to move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.

"rock ridge underwater," 1580s, riffe, probably via Dutch riffe, from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse rif "ridge in the sea; reef in a sail," literally "rib" (see rib (n.)).

"horizontal section of sail," late 14c. (mid-14c. in rif-rope), from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse rif "reef of a sail," probably a transferred use of rif "ridge under the sea; rib" (see rib (n.) and compare reef (n.1)). German reff, Swedish ref, Norwegian riv, Danish reb likely all are from the Old Norse word.

1660s, "take in, roll up" (as one would a section of a sail on a ship), from reef (n.2). Related: Reefed; reefing.

Etymology 1

1. scabby; scurvy. alt. scabby; scurvy. n. 1 (context Now chiefly dialectal English) The itch; any eruptive skin disorder. 2 (context Now chiefly dialectal English) dandruff. Etymology 2

   alt. 1 A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water. 2 (context Australia South Africa English) A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. 3 (context nautical English) A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind. 4 A reef knot. n. 1 A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water. 2 (context Australia South Africa English) A large vein of auriferous quartz; hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore. 3 (context nautical English) A portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed in a high wind. 4 A reef knot. v

2. 1 (context nautical English) To take in part of a sail in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind. 2 (context Australian English) To pull or yank strongly. 3 (context nautical of paddles English) To move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.

1. n. a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water

2. a rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese [syn: Witwatersrand, Rand]

1. v. lower and bring partially inboard; "reef the sailboat's mast"

2. roll up (a portion of a sail) in order to reduce its area

3. reduce (a sail) by taking in a reef

Reef are an English band from Glastonbury, England. The band members include Gary Stringer on vocals, Jesse Wood on guitar (replacing original guitarist Kenwyn House in 2014), Jack Bessant on bass and Dominic Greensmith on drums.

A reef is a bar of rock, sand, coral or similar material, lying beneath the surface of water. Reefs may be up to below the surface.

Many reefs result from abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock outcrops, and other natural processes—but the best-known reefs are the coral reefs of tropical waters developed through biotic processes dominated by corals and calcareous algae. Artificial reefs such as shipwrecks are sometimes created to enhance physical complexity on generally featureless sand bottoms in order to attract a diverse assemblage of organisms, especially fish.

Reef may refer to:

• Reef, a shallow or underwater obstacle, such as a coral reef
• Coral reef, a type of reef that is formed by coral
• Reef knot, a kind of knot
• Reefing, an action performed on sails to reduce the area on which the wind can act
• Reef the Lost Cauze, an American rapper
• Reef (band), a British band
• Reef (company), an American apparel and shoe company
• Reef, a slang term for the drug Cannabis.
• Recife (Portuguese for "reef"), capital of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco
• Gold reef, a synonym for a gold Vein (geology)
• Reef, a 1994 Booker-shortlisted novel written by Romesh Gunesekera

Reef is a brand of casual sandals, known as Thongs. Two Argentine brothers, Fernando and Santiago Aguerre, created their brand in the 1980s. In the 1980s they moved from Argentina to the San Diego beach community of La Jolla, California, where they began Reef. Their product became popular amongst surfers and beach goers. Reef has subsequently grown into one of the world's leading active sandal manufacturers.

Reef is owned by VF Corporation.

Reef is a historical fiction novel written by Sri Lankan-born British author Romesh Gunesekera, first published by Granta Books in 1994. Written in English and set in Sri Lanka, it tells the story of a talented young chef named Triton who is so committed to pleasing his master, Mr. Salgado, a marine biologist obsessed with swamps and seafood, that he is oblivious to the political unrest threatening his country. It is Gunesekera's debut novel and second book, following his 1992 collection of short stories, Monkfish Moon.

It was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1994, but lost to How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman amid much controversy; and the Guardian Fiction Prize the same year.