An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Riff

by Friedrich Kluge

Riff, n., ‘reef,’ ModHG. only, from LG. riff, reff; comp. the equiv. Du. rif, n., E. reef, and OIc. rif. The latter is equiv. in sound to Goth. rif, ‘rib,’ but this is probably only an accident. It has been thought to be allied to OIc. rífa, ‘to slit, split,’ rifa, ‘rift, split’; hence probably Riff means lit. ‘the dissevered, cleft, mass of rock,’ then ‘reef.’