Wharf
A wharf (
Overview
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 (
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
Wharf
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
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
Quay
Quay, on the other hand, has its origin in the
Gallery
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Stereoscopic view of Long Wharf in Boston, United States, c. 19th century, jutting into Boston Harbor
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Modern view of Boston's Long Wharf (2006)
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King Henry's Wharves, typical London wharves converted to apartments
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Wharf by Marriott/Pacquereau Bay on St. Thomas
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Tourist boat loading passengers at a small quay,Majorca, Spain
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Coal drops at Port Clarence, Teesside, in 1915 (engraving by T.H. Hair)
See also
- Bollard
- Canal basin
- Dock (maritime)
- Port
- Safeguarded wharf
References
- ^ "Fountain City Service Base mooring system gets an 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.
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ignored (help) - ISBN 978-0-7112-2941-9.
- 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)