Where does “minivan” come from?
Minivan is a blend of miniature, from Middle French caravane via Italian miniare and Latin minium meaning red lead, and van, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ker-.
minivan (English): A small van
Definitions
- A small van
Ancestry of “minivan”, step by step
minivan traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Van
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Van | A Van cat; A Turkish Van cat |
| 2 | English | caravan | A convoy or procession of travelers, their... |
| 3 | Middle French | caravane | — |
| 4 | Old French | carvane | — |
| 5 | Persian | کاروان | caravan; convoy |
| 6 | Middle Persian | kʾlwʾn' | military column; caravan |
| 7 | Old Persian | 𐎣𐎠𐎼 | the people, subjects; army |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |