Where does “ref” come from?

ref (Middle Low German) comes from Old Norse rif, from Proto-Germanic ribją, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- — to cover, to roof; rib.

Ancestry of “ref”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norserifrib, reef; reef
2Proto-Germanicribjąrib; reef, ridge
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rebʰ-to cover, to roof; rib

Words derived from “ref”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic ribją →Every word from Old Norse rif →
ref — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer