Reed, n.

n. [A-S. hreód, hréád, reód, O. H. Ger. hriod, hreod, reod, riet, N. H. Ger. ried, riet, rieth, D. riet, Ir. readan.]

1Sense 1. (Bot.) One of a large family of plants, mostly aquatic plants, being chiefly large grasses, with hollow, jointed stems, such as the common reed (Phragmites communis), the bamboo, &c.

2Sense 2. A musical instrument made of the hollow joint of some plant; a rustic or pastoral pipe.

Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed Of Hermes. Milton.

3Sense 3. An arrow, as made of a reed. Prior.

4Sense 4. Straw prepared for thatching a roof. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

5Sense 5. (Mus.) (a.) A thin piece of wood attached to the mouth-piece of instruments of the clarionet species. (b.) One of the thin pieces of metal, the vibrations of which produce the tones of a melodeon, accordeon, harmonium, or seraphine; also attached to certain sets or registers of pipes in an organ.

6Sense 6. (Weaving.) A frame of parallel flat strips of wood through which the warp-threads pass, set in the lathe or batten. See BATTEN.