Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “caravan” come from?

Caravan comes from Middle French caravane, from Old French carvane, from Persian کاروان, from Middle Persian kʾlwʾn', ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ker- meaning to move or carry.

caravan (English): A convoy or procession of travelers, their...

Definitions

  1. A convoy or procession of travelers, their...

Ancestry of “caravan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchcaravane—
2Old Frenchcarvane—
3Persianکاروانcaravan; convoy
4Middle Persiankʾlwʾn'military column; caravan
5Old Persian𐎣𐎠𐎼the people, subjects; army
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “caravan”

  • van
  • minivan
  • vanward
  • caravanning
  • campervan
  • vanload
  • vanpool
  • vanner
  • devan
  • vanette
  • caravaner
  • vanful
  • microvan
  • mailvan
  • caravanner
  • vanlike
  • caravanette
  • divvy van
  • motorcaravan
  • vanless
  • campervanner
  • caravanlike
  • minivan
  • motorcaravan
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →