Caravanserai
/ˌkær.ə.væn.səˈraɪ/noun
An inn or roadside lodge for caravans, especially along historic trade routes in Asia and the Middle East.
Did you know?The word comes from Persian and literally points to a caravan’s “palace,” because these fortified inns were built as safe havens for merchants, animals, and guarded goods on dangerous trade routes.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Persian
Persian
kārwān
“a caravan or traveling company of merchants”
Persian
Persian
sarāy
“a palace, inn, or large house”
Medieval Persian
Persian
kārwānsarāy
“a caravan inn or roadside lodging”
16th Century
Turkish
kervansaray
“a roadside inn for caravans”
17th Century
English
caravanserai
“a caravan inn or lodging place for travelers”