Where does “reefward” come from?
reefward (English) comes from English ward, from Middle English ward, from Old English weard, from Old English ōra, from Old English ēar, from Proto-Germanic ahaz, from Proto-Finnic ahtas, from Proto-Baltic anśtas — to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...
reefward (English): Toward a reef
Definitions
- Toward a reef
Ancestry of “reefward”, step by step
reefward traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ward | A warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman;... |
| 2 | Middle English | ward | ward, keeping |
| 3 | Old English | weard | guard; guard, the action of looking out for... |
| 4 | Old English | ōra | ore, unwrought metal |
| 5 | Old English | ēar | sea, ocean; grave, earth |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | ahaz | ear |
| 7 | Proto-Finnic | ahtas | narrow, cramped |
| 8 | Proto-Baltic | anśtas | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énǵʰus | narrow, tight |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enǵʰ- | to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;... |
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 |