REED, noun 1. The common name of many aquatic plants; most of them large grasses, with hollow jointed stems, such as the common reed of the genus Arundo, the bamboo, etc. The bur-reed is of the genus Sparganium; the Indian Flowering reed of the genus Canna. 2. A musical pipe; reeds being anciently used for instruments of music. 3. A little tube through which a hautboy, bassoon or clarinet is blown. 4. An arrow, as made of a reed headed. 5. Thatch.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI