noun / verb
reef
A fold in a sail that reduces its exposed area, or making such a fold.
The crew reefs the mainsail as the wind strengthens.
Etymology
The nautical source concerns a part of a sail gathered in to reduce its area. English keeps both the fold-name and the action of making it.
More examples
- He tied in a reef before leaving the harbor.
- The sail needed another reef in the rising wind.
- She showed us how to reef safely from the cockpit.
Forms
reef · reefs · reefed · reefing
Similar words
- furl
- Rolls or gathers a sail away rather than partly reducing area.