Caravan
/ˈkær.ə.væn/noun
A group of travelers journeying together, often through deserts or hostile regions.
Did you know?Originally, the term referred to a group of traders traveling across perilous deserts, often guided by stars as their compass.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ker-
“to turn, to bend, to run”
Old Persian
Old Persian
kārā
“a group of travelers, a caravan”
Arabic
Arabic
قافلة (qāfila)
“a caravan, a group traveling together”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
caravana
“a group of people traveling together, especially merchants”
Old French
Old French
caravane
“a train of camels or other animals carrying goods”
Middle English
Middle English
caravan
“a procession of travelers or merchants”
Explore more surprising origins