Etymology: < Anglo-Norman kaye, kaie, kay, kei, key, keye, cay, caye, quay, koy, also Old French, Middle French cai, cay, Middle French qai, quay, masculine (13th cent., also as quei ; French quai), Middle French caye, kaye, feminine (15th cent.), apparently ultimately < Gaulish caio- , *cagio- enclosure, probably originally ‘(enclosing) hedge’ (cognate with Welsh cae hedge, fence, enclosure) < the same Indo-European base as haw n.¹ The French word was probably originally used with reference to fence-like wooden revetments, which were used to stabilize riverbanks and allow boats to moor. Some early examples in English could perhaps alternatively be < Middle Dutch kaey, kae (see below).Forms in other languages. Compare Middle Dutch kade , kaey , kae (Dutch kade , also kaai ; currency in Old Dutch is perhaps implied by the place name Cadesand (a1115)); this has traditionally been assumed to be < French, although it has been suggested that it may be directly < a form in a Celtic language, and that the French word may be borrowed < Dutch. Compare ( < Dutch) German Kai (17th cent.), Swedish kaj (late 17th cent.), Danish kaj (19th cent.). Compare post-classical Latin caya , chaium , kaya , kaium , kayum , wharf (frequently from 1180 in British sources); it is uncertain whether the same word is shown by caya , cayum , chaia , chayum shop, workshop, storehouse (from late 10th cent.). It is uncertain whether Spanish cayo shoal, reef (see key n.², cay n.) ultimately shows the same word. Doubtful evidence for earlier currency in English. Earlier occurrences in place names such as Kaystrete (1254) may simply reflect the Anglo-Norman word, rather than implying earlier currency as a Middle English word. The following example of a vernacular word in a Latin context likewise probably shows the Anglo-Norman word:c1307 Rolls of Parl.: Edward I (Electronic ed.) Vetus codex §80. m. 136^v Per exaltacionem caye et diversionem aque.Pronunciation history. The usual modern pronunciation with /iː/ is surprising, since /eɪ/ is the expected modern development for a word with Middle English ai or ei . A similar situation is found with key n.¹ It is possible that the modern pronunciation of quay n. also reflects a northern variant, like key n.¹, although it is probably more likely that quay n. was associated with key n.¹ in the period when that word showed variation in its pronunciation, and hence quay n. also developed a variant with the reflex of Middle English open ē which ultimately became the usual form. (The rhyme in quot. 1850 perhaps reflects a spelling-pronunciation or simply shows an eye rhyme.) Compare also key n.²

Etymology: < quay n.

Etymology: Perhaps a variant of quail v.²