Cathay

[ ka-they ]

/ kæˈθeɪ /

noun Literary or Archaic.

China.

Origin of Cathay

< Medieval Latin Cat(h)aya < Turkic; compare Tatar Kïtai

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cathay

One airline that has already banned shipments on its passenger flights is Cathay Pacific.
Passenger Flights Must Stop Carrying Lithium-Ion Batteries as Cargo|Clive Irving|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the story of the Jesuit who more than 500 years ago made himself part of Cathay.
James Fallows: 5 Favorite ‘Outsiders In China’ Books|James Fallows|May 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Once more they dropped anchor in Saldanha Bay, a place at which most vessels sailing to Cathay were wont to touch.
Antony Waymouth|W.H.G. Kingston
Cathay is a country where it is necessary to be very careful.
A Bicycle of Cathay|Frank R. Stockton

And on her childish head, clasping the ruddy bobbed hair, glittered the jade-incrusted diadem of a fairy princess of Cathay.
The Moonlit Way|Robert W. Chambers
With the threat of help from Earth for Cathay, he had been forced to delay while larger fleets were built.
Victory|Lester del Rey
But the emperor of Cathay was called not cham, but chan; and I shall tell you how.
Early Travels in Palestine|Arculf et al.

British Dictionary definitions for cathay

Cathay

/ (kæˈθeɪ) /

noun

a literary or archaic name for China

Word Origin for Cathay

C14: from Medieval Latin Cataya, of Turkic origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012