Seraglio
/səˈrɑːl.joʊ/noun
A palace, especially one associated with a Turkish ruler; historically, the women’s quarters of such a palace.
Did you know?In English, seraglio was long tied to the Ottoman imperial palace and harem, but the word itself came through Italian from Turkish saray, ultimately from a Persian root meaning “palace.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sel-
“To dwell, to stay in a place”
Persian
Persian
sarāy
“A palace, mansion, or inn”
Turkish
Turkish
saray
“A palace”
Italian
Italian
seraglio
“A palace or royal residence, especially an Ottoman one”
16th Century
English
seraglio
“An Ottoman palace; later specifically the women’s quarters or harem”