2007-03-08 02:02:51 · 6 answers · asked by Roger m 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Miami
Many believe the word "key" is derived from the English word "cay" which in turn is derived from the Spanish word "cayo" and all mean "island."
Also, "cayos" is the Spanish word for little islands.
They are called keys because they are a chain of little islands.
2007-03-11 17:38:31 · answer #1 · answered by shoshanamom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They actually started off as a CAY (pronounced KEY) which is a small piece of low lying land like an islands. It eventually got changed to the New World KEY.
It is a good question though.
2007-03-08 12:45:47 · answer #2 · answered by ttpawpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
key 2 (k)
n. pl. keys
A low offshore island or reef, especially in the Gulf of Mexico; a cay. They are all pretty much flat , which is why they get evacuated during Hurricanes. They flood very easily...
2007-03-08 02:19:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The chain was eventually called "keys", also attributed to the Spanish, from cayos, meaning "small islands".
http://www.florida-keys.fl.us/history.htm
2007-03-08 04:43:22 · answer #4 · answered by alicias7768 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A "key" is a low, offshore island.
2007-03-08 02:18:44 · answer #5 · answered by Fall Down Laughing 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is derived from the Spanish "cayo," which means a very small island.
2007-03-08 04:48:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋