Hi,

I'm in search of a commonly accepted English word which starts with Ci- with a
hard C pronunciation.  Considering all the exceptions in the English
language, I'm guessing that such a word exists.

Thanks!

Gretchen

Looking through this list, I'm not finding any very good candidates:

http://www.brainydictionary.com/letters/ci.html

"Cinnoline" (pronounced "kin o lin") is the best word I see, but it
certainly isn't a household word (except possibly in the households of
organic chemists).

Also not common, but in Wbster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary:

"cist ^2 (sist, kist), n. a prehistroic sepulchral tomb or casket. 
Alsi kist. )< welsh < L cista ..."   (alternate pronounciation)

and the word 

"cistvaen (kistīvan), n.  cist ^2"

(which with this posting will be seen and known by so many people that
it can be said to be a "commonly accepted English word", not commonly
used, however.)

There's an Irish name "Cillian" that is pronounced with a hard C.

Ciabatta

.. as in the bread. Pronounced cha-BAHT-a.

- Hammer