Describes the action of pulling boat sails in, rolling them up before high winds.
This term has been borrowed to describe curtains and blinds that are pulled back and/or up using a similar system of cords and rings.
Reefed curtains are fixed at the head and drawn back, or back and up from behind by a series of rings and cords, which subtly control the degree of the pull up, the shape of the leading edge and the weight of the drape. The cords are secured into a sailing cleat fixed to the wall or window frame.