cay
UK[keɪ]US[keɪ]
n
A small, low island composed largely of coral or sand.
Etymology
The word 'cay' entered the English language through Spanish colonial terminology used in the Caribbean and Florida. Its ultimate origin is the Taíno word 'cayo', which referred to a small island. This term was adopted by Spanish explorers and subsequently borrowed into English, where it became a specialized geographical term. It is a doublet of the more common word 'key', as in the Florida Keys, with both words sharing the same Taíno source but following slightly different paths into modern English usage.
Analysis
The word 'cay' is a simplex loanword. It is derived from the Spanish word 'cayo', meaning a small island or key, which itself is believed to be of Taíno (an indigenous language of the Caribbean) origin.
Examples
The boat anchored in the sheltered lagoon behind the coral cay.
Many cays in the Bahamas are popular destinations for snorkeling and fishing.
The small, uninhabited cay was covered in dense vegetation and surrounded by a white sand beach.