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

Word Origin and History for cathay

Cathay

1560s, poetic name for "China," from Medieval Latin Cataya, from Turkish Khitai, from Uighur Khitai, name of a Tatar dynasty that ruled Beijing 936-1122.