Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “caravansary” come from?

caravansary (English) comes from English caravanserai, from French caravansérail, from Ottoman Turkish karvanseray, from Persian کاروانسرای, from Persian کاروان, from Middle Persian kʾlwʾn', from Old Persian 𐎣𐎠𐎼, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.

caravansary (English): Alternative spelling of caravanserai

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of caravanserai

Ancestry of “caravansary”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcaravanseraiA roadside inn having a central courtyard where...
2Frenchcaravansérailcaravanserai
3Ottoman Turkishkarvanseray—
4Persianکاروانسرایcaravanserai
5Persianکاروانcaravan; convoy
6Middle Persiankʾlwʾn'military column; caravan
7Old Persian𐎣𐎠𐎼the people, subjects; army
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
10Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →