quay
definition
a structure built on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload
example
The cargo ship arrived at the quay early in the morning to begin unloading its goods.
synonyms
wharfdockpier
word origin — from Middle English 'key', ultimately from Old French ' quai', meaning 'platform, bank', deriving from the Latin 'cata' or 'caput', meaning 'to seize'.