Motel
/moʊˈtɛl/noun
A roadside hotel designed for motorists, typically with parking directly outside the rooms.
Did you know?Unlike ancient words with deep roots, motel is a 20th-century blend coined to sell a new lifestyle—proof that language can be engineered like a brand spell.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meh₂-
“to measure”
Latin
Latin
māter
“mother”
Late Latin
Latin
hospitālis
“of a guest; hospitable”
Old French
Old French
hostel
“inn, lodging place”
1920s
English
motel
“motor hotel; a roadside lodging for motorists”
Modern English
English
motel
“a roadside hotel for motorists”