Caravanette
/ˌkærəvæˈnɛt/noun
A small caravan, especially one designed for towing or compact accommodation.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Persian kārvān, referring to a traveling company that crossed dangerous routes together for safety; the ending -ette simply means “small.”
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Persian
Persian
kārwān
“A group of travelers journeying together, especially across long or hazardous routes”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
qarāwān
“A caravan or traveling company; an Arabic form of the Persian loanword”
12th–13th Century
Italian
caravana
“A caravan or company of travelers”
16th Century
French
caravane
“A caravan; a traveling group or procession”
17th Century
English
caravan
“A company of travelers, later also a covered wagon or vehicle used for travel”
19th–20th Century
French/English
-ette
“A diminutive suffix meaning “small” or “smaller version,” added to caravan in English”
Modern English
English
caravanette
“A small caravan”
Explore more surprising origins