v. [see REEF.] To reef closely, to take in all the reefs of (a sail or ship); orig. and chiefly in pa. pple. Close-reefed.
1758. in Naval Chron., VIII. (1802), 447. The commanding ship appeared to be close reefed.
1775. Dalrymple, Voy., in Phil. Trans., LXVIII. 404. At noon, close reefed top-sails.
1795. Naval Chron., 189. Under close-reeved topsails.
1858. in Merc. Mar. Mag., V. 290. We were obliged to close reef.