Barrier Reef
/ˈbær.i.ər riːf/noun
A coral reef that lies roughly parallel to a coast and is separated from it by a lagoon or channel.
Did you know?The word “reef” entered English through Dutch nautical language, while “barrier” ultimately comes from a word for a bar or obstructing beam.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
barra
“A bar, barrier, or obstructing beam; the ultimate source is uncertain and may be pre-Roman.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
barriere
“A barrier, barricade, or structure blocking passage.”
15th Century
English
barrier
“An obstacle or fortified obstruction.”
16th Century
Dutch
rif
“A ridge or shoal in the sea, especially a navigational hazard.”
16th–17th Century
English
reef
“A ridge of rock, sand, or coral lying beneath or near the surface of the water.”
19th Century
English
barrier reef
“A coral reef running parallel to a shore and separated from it by a lagoon or channel.”
Modern English
English
Barrier Reef
“A standard geographical term for a coastal reef system, famously used in Great Barrier Reef.”