noun
shay
shay
Shay (noun) means an old-fashioned light horse-drawn carriage. Example: “The museum has a Victorian shay on display, complete with leather seats.”
noun
1
An old-fashioned light horse-drawn carriage.
"The museum has a Victorian shay on display, complete with leather seats."
name
1
A given name or surname of Irish origin, often a short form of Seamus.
"Everyone at the reunion just called him Shay."
How to use shay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old two-wheeled or four-wheeled carriage pulled by a horse; also a common Irish first name.
Common mistake
The carriage sense is old-fashioned and mostly shows up in period fiction or history writing, not everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- shays
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a Victorian _____ on display, complete with leather seats.
Etymology
A back-formation from "chaise" — people heard the French plural-sounding \"-aise\" ending and assumed \"shay\" was the singular.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shay
See all rhymes for shay →Frequently asked questions
What does “shay” mean?
The word “shay” means an old-fashioned light horse-drawn carriage. In plain terms, an old two-wheeled or four-wheeled carriage pulled by a horse; also a common Irish first name.
How do you pronounce “shay”?
“Shay” is pronounced shay (/ʃeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shay” in a sentence?
Here is “shay” used in a sentence: “The museum has a Victorian shay on display, complete with leather seats.”
What part of speech is “shay”?
Depending on how it is used, “shay” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “shay” come from?
The word “shay” comes from French. A back-formation from "chaise" — people heard the French plural-sounding \"-aise\" ending and assumed \"shay\" was the singular.
How many meanings does “shay” have?
“Shay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an old-fashioned light horse-drawn carriage.
