Where does “quay” come from?

quay (English) comes from Middle English keye, from Old French kay, from Gaulish kagyum, from Proto-Celtic kagyom, from Proto-Indo-European kagʰyóm, from Proto-Indo-European -yós — Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems.

quay (English): A stone or concrete structure on navigable water...

Definitions

  1. A stone or concrete structure on navigable water...

Ancestry of “quay”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishkeyeA key; a tool for opening locks
2Old Frenchkay—
3Gaulishkagyum—
4Proto-Celtickagyompen, enclosure
5Proto-Indo-Europeankagʰyómenclosure, hedge
6Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

Words derived from “quay”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós →
quay — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer