DictionaryAI

quay

KEE/kiː/

Pluralquays

2 meanings of quay

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    A solid platform built at the water's edge where boats can stop to load and unload.

    Like a sidewalk at the edge of the water where boats park.

    The fishing boats tied up along the quay at sunset.

    Workers stacked crates on the quay before the ship arrived.

    UsageSay it like key.

    Similarwharf, dock, pier, jetty, landing

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 2
    verbrare
    To bring a boat in and tie it up at a landing on the water.

Use it in a sentence

Write your own sentence with quay, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.

Origin

It came from Middle English "kay" or "key," from Old French "kay." The spelling was later changed to look like the French word "quai."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts