quai

Quai is a term used in French to denote a quay or wharf along a body of water. In English, quay refers to a similar harborfront structure—an engineered platform that runs parallel to a harbor or river and is used for loading, unloading, and sometimes passenger movement. In French, the word quai can also designate a riverside promenade beside the water.

Quays are built as solid walls or platforms, often of stone or concrete, sometimes extending long distances along the shore. They provide mooring points, warehouses, cranes, and sometimes promenades for pedestrians. They may be part of a port complex or form the edge of a city’s waterfront.

Quay, dock, pier, and jetty are related terms but describe different forms of harbor works. A quay is a waterfront platform adjacent to water; a dock is a basin with water access and often gates; a pier is a projecting structure; a jetty extends from shore to protect a harbor. In British usage, quay is the standard spelling for the harborfront; in American contexts, quay is still used but less common.

Etymology: English borrowed quay from the French quai. The term is widely used in port cities around the world and appears in many geographic names, reflecting the historical role of waterfront infrastructure in trade and transportation. Quays have historical importance in trade, shipbuilding, and urban development; many former commercial quays have been repurposed as cultural venues, markets, or promenades.