reef knotn.
/ˈriːf nɒt/, U.S. /ˈˌrif ˈˌnɑt/ Originally Nautical.
A double knot consisting of a pair of overhand knots tied in opposing directions, and originally used to secure the reefpoints of a sail.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > knot used by sailors > specific
bowline-knot1627
clinch1627
sheepshank1627
wall-knot1627
running bowline1710
running bowline knot1726
bend1769
clove-hitch1769
half-hitch1769
hitch1769
walnut1769
cat's paw1794
midshipman's hitch1794
reef knot1794
clench1804
French shroud knot1808
carrick bend1819
bowline1823
slippery hitch1832
wall1834
Matthew Walker1841
shroud-knot1860
stopper-knotc1860
marling hitch1867
wind-knot1870
Portuguese knot1871
rosette1875
chain knota1877
stopper-hitch1876
swab-hitch1883
monkey fist1917
Spanish bowline1968
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > binding or tying > a bond, tie, or fastening > [noun] > knot > reef-knot
reef knot1794
loop-knot1795
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 172 Fastening together the fall of a tackle, or any two ropes, by passing two or more cross turns with rope-yarn round each part, and as many round turns above them; making fast the ends with a reef-knot.
1823 Trans. Apothecaries & Surgeon-Apothecaries Eng. & Wales 1 380 Sailors are well aware of the difference between a reef-knot which will not slip, and a granny's-knot.
1884 W. Pye Surg. Handicraft ii. viii. 78 The first and most obvious use of this [triangular or scarf] bandage is to simply tie it round..with a reef knot, it having been previously folded up into a cravat.
1936 Times 8 Dec. 18/5 Around the neck was a scarf, which was tied tightly in a reef knot.
1991 B. Anderson Girls High (1992) viii. 88 Tim tied reef knots with green string.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1794