keye

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Middle English

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Etymology 1

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From Old English cǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *kaiju; the final vowel is from the Old English oblique cases.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkæi̯(ə)/
  • (Northern) IPA(key): /ˈkeːj(ə)/, /ˈkeː(ə)/

Noun

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keye (plural keyes or keyen)

  1. A key; a tool for opening locks.
  2. In various extended senses:
    1. (architecture) A protrusion at the apex of a vault.
    2. (music, rare) A musical sound; a note or tone.
    3. (nautical, rare) A rudder (device for steering a ship)
  3. In various figurative senses:
    1. Control, safety, or that which ensures it.
    2. A requirement or prerequisite.
    3. (rare) An explication; explanatory material.
Descendants
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  • English: key
  • Scots: key, kee, kye
References
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Etymology 2

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Borrowed from Old French kay, cail.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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keye (plural keyes)

  1. quay
Descendants
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References
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Zazaki

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [kɛˈjɛ]
  • Hyphenation: ke‧ye

Noun

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keye

  1. house