2. (Mining.) A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called
in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable
ore.
{Reef builder} (Zo["o]l.), any stony coral which contributes
material to the formation of coral reefs.
{Reef heron} (Zo["o]l.), any heron of the genus {Demigretta};
as, the blue reef heron ({D. jugularis}) of Australia.
Note: From the head to the first reef-band, in square sails,
is termed the first reef; from this to the next is the
second reef; and so on. In fore-and-aft sails, which
reef on the foot, the first reef is the lowest part.
--Totten.
{Close reef}, the last reef that can be put in.
{Reef band}. See {Reef-band} in the Vocabulary.
{Reef knot}, the knot which is used in tying reef pointss.
See Illust. under {Knot}.
{Reef line}, a small rope formerly used to reef the courses
by being passed spirally round the yard and through the
holes of the reef. --Totten.
{Reef points}, pieces of small rope passing through the
eyelet holes of a reef-band, and used reefing the sail.
{Reef tackle}, a tackle by which the reef cringles, or rings,
of a sail are hauled up to the yard for reefing. --Totten.
{To take a reef in}, to reduce the size of (a sail) by
folding or rolling up a reef, and lashing it to the spar.
{To reef the paddles}, to move the floats of a paddle wheel
toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.