Reff

Borrowed from German Reff (“wooden frame”), a metonymic occupational surname for a carrier or peddler.

Reff (plural Reffs)

1. A surname from German.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Reff is the 34465^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 657 individuals. Reff is most common among White (85.54%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Reff”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.

• RFFE

• IPA^(key): /rɛf/, [ʁɛf]

Borrowed from Low German Reff, from Middle Low German ref. Cognate with Dutch reef, English reef, Danish rev. Further origin uncertain. The West Germanic forms are possibly borrowed from Old Norse rif. If so, the word may identical to that for “rib” (Proto-Germanic *ribją), from which is also German Riff (“reef, bank of rocks”); or it may be a derivation from Old Norse ríva (“to tear”), from Proto-Germanic *rīfaną.

Reff n (strong, genitive Reffes or Reffs, plural Reffe)

1. (nautical) reef (part of a sail that can be rolled in during high wind)

• reffen

• Riff, Rippe (perhaps)

• Philippa, Marlies, Debrabandere, Frans, Quak, Arend, Schoonheim, Tanneke, van der Sijs, Nicoline (2003–2009) “reven”, in Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands‎ (in Dutch), Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press

From Middle High German ref, from Old High German href. Cognate with Old Norse hrip and perhaps with Latin corbis, whence German Korb. Compare also Lithuanian krepšỹs.

Reff n (strong, genitive Reffes or Reffs, plural Reffe)

1. (regional) a wooden frame used to carry someone or something on the back

   Synonym: Rückentrage

• Friedrich Kluge (1883) “Reff”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891