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Glite Dictionary
reef point

reef point

9.0
A short piece of rope sewn into a sail to make the sail smaller in strong wind
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : punto de rizo
  • The sailor secured each reef point carefully before the storm hit.

Examples

  • You must tie the reef points tightly to prevent the sail from flapping.

  • After lowering the mainsail a little, they gathered the excess fabric using the reef points.

  • The sailor tied the reef point securely.

  • She adjusted the reef points on the sail.

  • The sailor secured each reef point carefully before the storm hit.

  • You must tie the reef points tightly to prevent the sail from flapping.

  • After lowering the mainsail a little, they gathered the excess fabric using the reef points.

Synonyms

reef line
vsreef point
  • Specialized
8.1

A short rope attached to a sail that sailors use to make the sail smaller in strong wind

is described as fixed and sewn into the sail rather than attached
reefing line
vsreef point
  • Specialized
9.3

A short rope sewn into a sail to tie part down and make the sail smaller in strong wind

is the set of permanent sewn-in points on a sail rather than the tying action

Surface Forms

reef point singular
reef points plural

Morphology

reef + point

The noun 'reef' names a part of a sail and 'point' denotes a specific place or item, so a learner who knows both could infer the phrase refers to something associated with the reef area of a sail. However, the precise technical sense—short lengths of line sewn into the sail—is specialized nautical knowledge and not directly derivable from the general meanings of 'reef' and 'point', making the expression only partially predictable.

Etymology

The sailing term reef point names a short loop of rope sewn into a sail. Sailors would tie extra sail material to the reef or point to 'make the sail smaller' in strong wind, so the name means the place used to shorten or secure the sail.