quay

[ kee, key, kwey ]
See synonyms for quay on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a landing place, especially one of solid masonry, constructed along the edge of a body of water; wharf.

Origin of quay

1
1690–1700; spelling variant (after French quai) of earlier kay (also key, whence the modern pronunciation) <Old French kay, cay; akin to Spanish cayo shoal. See key2

Other words for quay

Other words from quay

  • quaylike, adjective

Words that may be confused with quay

Other definitions for Quay (2 of 2)

Quay
[ kwey ]

noun
  1. Matthew Stanley, 1833–1904, U.S. politician: senator 1887–99, 1901–4.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for quay

quay

/ (kiː) /


noun
  1. a wharf, typically one built parallel to the shoreline: Compare pier (def. 1)

Origin of quay

1
C14 keye, from Old French kai, of Celtic origin; compare Cornish hedge, fence, Old Breton cai fence

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012