Now written QUAY. Forms: 4–5 keye, 4–9 key; also 5–8 kay, (5–6 kaie, 6 kaye, keay, 8 kea). [a. OF. kay, kai, cay (1311 in Godef., Compl.), whence also Du. kaai (earlier kad, kae, kaeye), Ger. and Da. kai, Sw. kaj. Cognate with the OF. word is Sp. cayo shoal, reef (see next): for the ultimate etymology see CAY. In Eng., 14–18th c., usually written key (less freq. kay), which latterly underwent the same change of pron. as KEY sb.1 In early 18th c., the spelling quay was introduced, after later F. quai, but did not finally supersede kay, key till nearly a century later; in spite of this change of spelling the pronunciation remains that of key (kī).]
A wharf, a quay.
[1306. Rolls Parlt., I. 200/2. Per exaltationem Caye & diversionem aquæ.]
a. 1400. Sir Beues (MS. S), 141/3056. Sir Saber … went him forth also bliue Tille þe keye þere þe schip scholde ryue.
1467. Ord. Worcester, in Eng. Gilds, 374. That the slippe and the keye, and the pavyment ther, be ouerseyn and repared.
1495. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 265. Ankers Receyved at the Kay in Hampton.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 209. The water rose three foote above the wharfe, where the Key stode in Andwarpe.
1593. Norden, Spec. Brit., M’sex, I. 34. Billingsgate is a harbor or kaye for shipping.
1621. Quarles, Div. Poems, Esther (1717), 8. The Keel begins t’ obey Her gentle Rudder, leaves her quiet Key.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., I. 75. At her Ports and Keyes, Take in the wealth of Kingdomes and of Seas.
1718. Freethinker, No. 16, ¶ 4. A young Fellow … fell from a Key into the River, and was drowned.
1721. Perry, Daggenh. Breach, 24. To lade and unlade their Goods … at the Keas of the City.
1759. B. Martin, Nat. Hist. Eng., II. Suffolk, 48. It is clean, and has a good Kay on the River Ald.
1773. Brydone, Sicily, ii. (1809), 25. The key [at Messina] exceeds anything I have yet seen, even in Holland.
1779–81. Johnson, Lives, Drake, Wks. 1787, IV. 413. The people … ran in crowds to the key with shouts and congratulations.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 132. Key, kay, or quay, a wharf for loading or unloading vessels.
fig. 1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., ccxxxi. A Key of fire ran all along the shore, And lightened all the river with a blaze.
† b. transf. A harbor, haven. nonce-use.
1621. Quarles, Argalus & P. (1678), 41. That thou maist safely slide Into the bosome of thy quiet Key, And quit thee fairly of th’injurious Sea.
c. attrib. and Comb., as key-duty, -gate, -master, -side, -wall; key-wood, wood landed at a quay (see quot. 1467).
1425. MS. Found. Chart. Thornton’s Hosp., Newcastle, A via regia voc. le keyside.
1467. E. E. Gilds, 383. That better gouernaunce and rule be hadd, and better ouersight, vppon keywood, crates, and colez.
1477. Waterf. Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 313. To stoppe the saide key yate with lyme and stone.
1638. Plan walls Newcastle, in Archæol. Æliana, XII. Pl. xiii. 230. The Newe Key Wall.
1764. Newcastle Chron., No. 1. 2/2. Capt. Giles, Key-master here.
1778. Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2), s.v. Watchet, The late Sir William Wyndham built the pier of the harbour, and had the key-duties.
