cay

American  

[key, kee] / keɪ, ki /

noun

1. a small low island; key.

---

cay British  

/ kiː, keɪ /

noun

1. Also called: key.  a small low island or bank composed of sand and coral fragments, esp in the Caribbean area

---

cay Scientific  

/ kē,kā /

1. A small, low island composed largely of coral or sand.

2. Also called key

---

Etymology

Origin of cay

1700–10; < Spanish cayo; key ²

Example Sentences

From the point of view of the Philippines this, and the fact that Pagasa is solid land, not a partially submerged reef or sandy cay, strengthens its legal claims in the area.

From BBC

Staniel Cay is in the Exumas, an archipelago of hundreds of cays and islands in the outer Bahamas, beginning about thirty-five miles southeast of Nassau.

From Salon

One person from the missing vessel spent 30 hours in the water before also being washed ashore at Bedwell Island, a small sandy cay within the Clarke Reef coral atoll.

From Reuters

Nicaraguan soldiers began preparing the evacuation of inhabitants of islands and cays around the town of Sandy Bay Sirpi.

From Seattle Times

It was an easy swim or paddle to individual cays.

From Washington Post