Quay
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quay¹
- /kiː/ UK
- /keɪ/ Ireland
- /kiː/ US
- /keɪ/ US
- /kweɪ/ US
Sounds like key · Rhymes with -iː, -eɪ
Where it comes from
The current spelling replaced the spelling key in the 1690s to emulate the spelling but (at least originally) not the pronunciation of the equivalent modern French quai. From Middle English kay, key, kaye, keye, from Old French kay, cail, from Gaulish *kagyum, cagiíun (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“field”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (“enclosure”). Doublet of hedge and hey (“choreographic figure”).
noun quays · cay
- A stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels; a wharf. moor up in the quay
verb quays · quaying · quayed · cay
- To land or tie up at a quay or similar structure, especially used in the phrase "quay up".
quay²
adjective quayer · quayest
- Alternative spelling of qway (“far”).qway
adverb quayer · quayest
- Alternative spelling of qway (“far”).qway
Quay³
proper noun
- A surname.
