reaching

Meanings

1. present participle and gerund of reach

1. The action of one who reaches; an attempt to grasp something by stretching.
2. Sailing on a reach, i.e. having the wind on either side and coming from an angle that is larger with respect to the bow than when sailing close-hauled.

Etymology

From Middle English reching, rechyng, recchinge, rechand, from Old English *rǣċende and reċċende (“reaching”), from Proto-Germanic *raikijandz, present participle of *raikijaną (“to stretch, reach”) and Proto-Germanic *rakjandz, present participle of *rakjaną (“to stretch, straighten”). Equivalent to reach + -ing.