Where does “key” come from?
Key comes from Spanish cayo, from Taíno cayo, a word for a small island or reef.
key (English): An object designed to open and close a lock; An...
Definitions
- An object designed to open and close a lock; An...
Ancestry of “key”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | cay | A small, low island largely made of sand or coral |
| 2 | Spanish | Cayo | — |
| 3 | Taíno | cayo | small island |