A wharf (pl.wharves or wharfs), quay (/kiː/kee, also /keɪ,kweɪ/k(w)ay[2]), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.[3][4] Such a structure includes one or more berths (mooring locations), and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships. Wharves are often considered to be a series of docks at which boats are stationed. A marginal wharf is connected to the shore along its full length.[5]
Traffic sign: Quayside or river bank ahead. Unprotected quayside or riverbank.
A wharf commonly comprises a fixed platform, often on pilings. Commercial ports may have warehouses that serve as interim storage: where it is sufficient a single wharf with a single berth constructed along the land adjacent to the water is normally used; where there is a need for more capacity multiple wharves, or perhaps a single large wharf with multiple berths, will instead be constructed, sometimes projecting over the water. A pier, raised over the water rather than within it, is commonly used for cases where the weight or volume of cargos will be low.
Smaller and more modern wharves are sometimes built on flotation devices (pontoons) to keep them at the same level as the ship, even during changing tides.
In everyday parlance the term quay is common in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other Commonwealth countries, and the Republic of Ireland, whereas the term wharf is more common in the United States. In some contexts wharf and quay may be used to mean[clarification needed]pier, berth, or jetty.[6]
In old ports such as London (which once had around 1700 wharves[7]) many old wharves have been converted to residential or office use.
Certain early railways in England referred to goods loading points as "wharves". The term was carried over from marine usage. The person who was resident in charge of the wharf was referred to as a "wharfinger".[8]
Etymologyedit
Quay in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish language term cé is a borrowing from Anglo-Norman kay, cail.
Wharfedit
The word wharf comes from the Old Englishhwearf,[9] cognate to the Old Dutch word werf, which both evolved to mean "yard", an outdoor place where work is done, like a shipyard (Dutch: scheepswerf) or a lumberyard (Dutch: houtwerf). Originally, werf or werva in Old Dutch (werf, wer in Old Frisian) simply referred to inhabited ground that was not yet built on (similar to "yard" in modern English), or alternatively to a terp.[10] This could explain the name Ministry Wharf located at Saunderton, just outside High Wycombe, which is nowhere near any body of water. In support of this explanation is the fact that many places in England with "wharf" in their names are in areas with a high Dutch influence, for example the Norfolk broads.
Staithedit
In the northeast and east of England the term staith or staithe (from the Norse for landing stage) is also used. The two terms have historically had a geographical distinction: those to the north in the Kingdom of Northumbria used the Old English spelling staith, southern sites of the Danelaw took the Danish spelling staithe. Both originally referred to jetties or wharves. In time, the northern coalfields of Northumbria developed coal staiths specifically for loading coal onto ships and these would adopt the staith spelling as a distinction from simple wharves: for example, Dunston Staiths in Gateshead and Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk. However, the term staith may also be used to refer only to loading chutes or ramps used for bulk commodities like coal in loading ships and barges.
Quayedit
Quay, on the other hand, has its origin in the Proto-Celtic language. Before it changed to its current form under influence of the modern Frenchquai, its Middle English spelling was key, keye or caye. This in turn also came from the Old Normancai (Old French / French chai "wine cellar"),[11] meaning originally "earth bank near a river", then "bank built at a port to allow ship docking".[12] The French term quai comes, through Picard or Norman-French, from Gaulishcaio, ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Celtic *kagio- "to encompass, enclose". Modern cognates include Welshcae "fence, hedge" and Cornishke "hedge",[11]
The Tønsberg City wharf in Tønsberg, Norway is a popular tourist attraction, and its restaurants and pubs attract many visitors during the summer seasons.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wharves and quays.
The dictionary definition of wharf at Wiktionary
The dictionary definition of quay at Wiktionary
January 07, 2024
wharf, other, uses, disambiguation, quay, wharves, redirect, here, other, uses, quay, disambiguation, song, aethiopes, album, wharf, wharves, wharfs, quay, also, staith, staithe, structure, shore, harbour, bank, river, canal, where, ships, dock, load, unload, . For other uses see Wharf disambiguation Quay and Wharves redirect here For other uses see Quay disambiguation For the song see Aethiopes album A wharf pl wharves or wharfs quay k iː kee also k eɪ k w eɪ k w ay 2 staith or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers 3 4 Such a structure includes one or more berths mooring locations and may also include piers warehouses or other facilities necessary for handling the ships Wharves are often considered to be a series of docks at which boats are stationed A marginal wharf is connected to the shore along its full length 5 The Barbours Cut Terminal of the Port of Houston US This cargo shipping terminal has a single large wharf with multiple berths Wharf under construction on the Upper Mississippi in Fountain City Wisconsin 1 Contents 1 Overview 2 Etymology 2 1 Wharf 2 2 Staith 2 3 Quay 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOverview edit nbsp Traffic sign Quayside or river bank ahead Unprotected quayside or riverbank A wharf commonly comprises a fixed platform often on pilings Commercial ports may have warehouses that serve as interim storage where it is sufficient a single wharf with a single berth constructed along the land adjacent to the water is normally used where there is a need for more capacity multiple wharves or perhaps a single large wharf with multiple berths will instead be constructed sometimes projecting over the water A pier raised over the water rather than within it is commonly used for cases where the weight or volume of cargos will be low Smaller and more modern wharves are sometimes built on flotation devices pontoons to keep them at the same level as the ship even during changing tides In everyday parlance the term quay is common in the United Kingdom Canada Australia and many other Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland whereas the term wharf is more common in the United States In some contexts wharf and quay may be used to mean clarification needed pier berth or jetty 6 In old ports such as London which once had around 1700 wharves 7 many old wharves have been converted to residential or office use Certain early railways in England referred to goods loading points as wharves The term was carried over from marine usage The person who was resident in charge of the wharf was referred to as a wharfinger 8 Etymology edit nbsp Quay in Dublin Ireland The Irish language term ce is a borrowing from Anglo Norman kay cail Wharf edit The word wharf comes from the Old English hwearf 9 cognate to the Old Dutch word werf which both evolved to mean yard an outdoor place where work is done like a shipyard Dutch scheepswerf or a lumberyard Dutch houtwerf Originally werf or werva in Old Dutch werf wer in Old Frisian simply referred to inhabited ground that was not yet built on similar to yard in modern English or alternatively to a terp 10 This could explain the name Ministry Wharf located at Saunderton just outside High Wycombe which is nowhere near any body of water In support of this explanation is the fact that many places in England with wharf in their names are in areas with a high Dutch influence for example the Norfolk broads Staith edit In the northeast and east of England the term staith or staithe from the Norse for landing stage is also used The two terms have historically had a geographical distinction those to the north in the Kingdom of Northumbria used the Old English spelling staith southern sites of the Danelaw took the Danish spelling staithe Both originally referred to jetties or wharves In time the northern coalfields of Northumbria developed coal staiths specifically for loading coal onto ships and these would adopt the staith spelling as a distinction from simple wharves for example Dunston Staiths in Gateshead and Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk However the term staith may also be used to refer only to loading chutes or ramps used for bulk commodities like coal in loading ships and barges Quay edit Quay on the other hand has its origin in the Proto Celtic language Before it changed to its current form under influence of the modern French quai its Middle English spelling was key keye or caye This in turn also came from the Old Norman cai Old French French chai wine cellar 11 meaning originally earth bank near a river then bank built at a port to allow ship docking 12 The French term quai comes through Picard or Norman French from Gaulish caio ultimately tracing back to the Proto Celtic kagio to encompass enclose Modern cognates include Welsh cae fence hedge and Cornish ke hedge 11 Gallery edit nbsp Stereoscopic view of Long Wharf in Boston United States c 19th century jutting into Boston Harbor nbsp Modern view of Boston s Long Wharf 2006 nbsp The Tonsberg City wharf in Tonsberg Norway is a popular tourist attraction and its restaurants and pubs attract many visitors during the summer seasons nbsp The shore of the Tokoinranta wharf in Hakaniemi Helsinki Finland 2007 nbsp King Henry s Wharves typical London wharves converted to apartments nbsp Wharf by Marriott Pacquereau Bay on St Thomas nbsp Tourist boat loading passengers at a small quay Sa Calobra Majorca Spain nbsp Coal drops at Port Clarence Teesside in 1915 engraving by T H Hair See also editBollard Canal basin Dock maritime Port Safeguarded wharfReferences edit https www dvidshub net news 440977 fountain city service base mooring system gets upgrade quay Merriam Webster Dictionary Merriam Webster Incorporated 31 August 2012 Retrieved 19 October 2012 quay American Heritage Dictionary Dictionary com LLC Retrieved 8 February 2010 wharf American Heritage Dictionary Dictionary com LLC Retrieved 8 February 2010 Jetties Piers and Wharfs rusi ns ca 2 June 2017 Retrieved 30 May 2023 wharf Philip Lief Group 2013 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Craig Charles Diprose Graham Seaborne Mike 2009 London s Changing Riverscape London Frances Lincoln Ltd ISBN 978 0 7112 2941 9 Mitchell Vic Smith Keith 1996 Branch Lines Around Bodmin Midhurst West Sussex Middleton Press ISBN 978 1873793831 Harper Douglas wharf Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 12 August 2021 werf werva Historische woordenboeken Nederlands en Fries in Dutch Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal Retrieved 8 February 2020 a b Harper Douglas quay Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 12 August 2021 CNRTL French 1 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wharves and quays nbsp The dictionary definition of wharf at Wiktionary nbsp The dictionary definition of quay at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wharf amp oldid 1191547028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
