Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “reef” come from?

reef (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch rīven, from Proto-West Germanic rīfan, from Proto-Germanic rīfaną, from Proto-Indo-European rēy- — thing; possession; to regulate, count; to count,...

reef (Dutch): line drawn on the ground, furrow; Alternative...

Definitions

  1. line drawn on the ground, furrow; Alternative...

Ancestry of “reef”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchrīven—
2Proto-West Germanicrīfanto tear, to rend
3Proto-Germanicrīfanąto tear, rend
4Proto-Indo-Europeanrēy-thing; possession; to regulate, count; to count,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European rēy- →