means A tall grass that grows in wetlands, or the thin slip of cane or metal that vibrates to make sound in instruments like clarinets, oboes, and saxophones.

from From Old English 'hrēod,' the wetland plant, with cousins across the Germanic languages — Dutch 'riet,' German 'Ried.' The musical sense grew naturally: early instruments really were voiced by slivers of actual reed-cane, so the marsh plant lent its name to the wooden tongue that hums in a woodwind's mouth.