Reeds
/riːdz/noun
Plural of reed: a tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wetlands or, by extension, a thin strip of wood or metal used in instruments.
Did you know?English reed comes from a Germanic root meaning “red” or “reddish,” likely referring to the plant’s color, and the same ancient root also survives in words like ruby and ruddy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reudh-
“to be red, ruddy”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rauthaz
“red, reddish”
Old English
English
rēod
“a reed; also reddish in color”
Middle English
English
rede
“a reed, especially a marsh plant with slender stems”
Modern English
English
reed
“a tall, slender wetland plant; by extension, a thin strip or tube in various tools and instruments”