quay

¹ American  

[kee, key, kwey] / ki, keɪ, kweɪ /

noun

1. a landing place, especially one of solid masonry, constructed along the edge of a body of water; wharf.

   Synonyms:

   levee, landing, dock, pier

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Quay ² American  

[kwey] / kweɪ /

noun

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

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quay British  

/ kiː /

noun

1. a wharf, typically one built parallel to the shoreline Compare pier

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Other Word Forms

• quaylike adjective

Etymology

Origin of quay

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 key ²

Example Sentences

Its rigorous order and deep perspective, enhanced by the receding lines of ship masts and rail tracks along the expansive quay, address his motif in a style apropos of its modern subject.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The “Turenges” took a room in a hotel overlooking the harbor and discovered, to their surprise, an unguarded entrance that allowed them to observe the quay itself.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

The terminal operator International Transportation Service plans to fill in a 19-acre area of water and extend the existing quay by 560 feet, which would allow larger ships to dock at the port.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2025

He vanished into the growing gap between the vessel and the quay, as the water was violently churned by the ship’s powerful screws.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 6, 2023

She looked at the other refugees on the quay, expecting to see them shaking their fingers, saying, “Shame on you!”

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides