cay

[key, kee]

noun

1. a small low island; key.

cay

/ kiː, keɪ /

noun

1. Also called: key. a small low island or bank composed of sand and coral fragments, esp in the Caribbean area

cay

1. A small, low island composed largely of coral or sand.

2. Also called key

Word History and Origins

Origin of cay¹

1700–10; < Spanish cayo; key ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cay¹

C18: from Spanish cayo, probably from Old French quai _quay

Example Sentences

From the point of view of the Philippines this, and the fact that Pagasa is solid land, not a partially submerged reef or sandy cay, strengthens its legal claims in the area.

From BBC

Staniel Cay is in the Exumas, an archipelago of hundreds of cays and islands in the outer Bahamas, beginning about thirty-five miles southeast of Nassau.

From Salon

One person from the missing vessel spent 30 hours in the water before also being washed ashore at Bedwell Island, a small sandy cay within the Clarke Reef coral atoll.

From Reuters

Nicaraguan soldiers began preparing the evacuation of inhabitants of islands and cays around the town of Sandy Bay Sirpi.

From Seattle Times

What used to be a cay is now a spit of sand encircled by a coral reef.

From Washington Post