An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Reff

by Friedrich Kluge

Reff (1.), n., ‘dosser, framework of staves for carrying on the back,’ from the equiv. MidHG. rëf, n., OHG. rëf, n., for earlier Goth. *hrip; comp. OIc. hrip, n., ‘wooden frame for carrying coals or peat,’ MidE. and E. rip, ‘fish-basket.’ To the assumption that the word is primit. akin to Lat. corbis, ‘basket,’ there is no phonetic objection (see Korb and Krebe), yet the Alem. variants seem to imply a Teut. primary form *hrëfo-.

Reff (2.), n., also Reef, n., ‘reef,’ ModHG. only, a nautical term borrowed from LG.; comp. Du. and E. reef, also Du. reven, ‘to reef a sail.’ It is noteworthy that in OIc. rif, ‘rib,’ is used in the same sense. OIc. rifa, ‘to tack together,’ is probably most closely connected with the cognates.