What is the Latin word for reef?

The usual Latin words for “reef” are cautēs, vēlum, subdūcō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“reef” in Latin

cautēsa rough, craggy or pointed rock, or cliff; rock, crag vēluma cloth, covering, curtain, veil, awning; the sail of a ship; the soft palate subdūcōto draw from under or below; draw, lift or pull up, raise; to draw or haul up onto land, beach; to draw, take or lead aw

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

reef s.

(of rocks)(of rocks), cautes (plur.).

reef v.

(a sail)(a sail), velum (vela) subducere (Auct. Bell. Alex.); vela contrahere, etc. (Cic.); velum subnectere antennis (Ov.); velum legere (Verg.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for reef?: The usual Latin words for “reef” are cautēs, vēlum, subdūcō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.