Where does “reefable” come from?
reefable (English) comes from English able, from Middle English able, from Old French able, from Latin habilis, from Latin -ilis, from Proto-Italic -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -lós — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
reefable (English): Of a sail: capable of being reefed
Definitions
- Of a sail: capable of being reefed
Ancestry of “reefable”, step by step
reefable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English able
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 2 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 3 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 4 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |
via English reef
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | reef | A chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying... |
| 2 | English | riff | A repeated instrumental melody line in a song; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | rif | — |
| 4 | Old English | hrif | body; womb; belly |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hrif | womb |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hrefaz | body; torso; stomach |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱrep- | body |