Reed. That part of a loom used to separate the threads of the warp and for beating the weft threads up in the web. It if made of parellel slips of metal or reed, which resembles in their closeness the teeth of a comb. They are fixed at their ends into two pieces of wood, set a few inches apart. The term reed also signifies a flexible metal stay used by ladies for distending their dress skirts behind. These come in a set of three, each of a different length.