Dutch word rif comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ-, Proto-Indo-European *rebh-, and later Proto-Germanic *ribją ((anatomy) rib. Reef.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *h₁rebʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *rebh- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | rib, arch, ceiling, cover |
| *ribją | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | (anatomy) rib. Reef. |
| rif | Old Norse (non) | |
| rif | Middle Dutch (dum) | |
| rif | Dutch (nld) | (nautical) reef: an arrangement to reduce the area of a sail in a high wind Reef: a chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. |