Where does “van” come from?

van (Manx) comes from English van, from English caravan, from Middle French caravane, from Old French carvane, from Persian کاروان, from Middle Persian kʾlwʾn', from Old Persian 𐎣𐎠𐎼, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.

van (Manx): van

Definitions

  1. van

Ancestry of “van”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvanA covered vehicle used for carrying goods or...
2EnglishcaravanA convoy or procession of travelers, their...
3Middle Frenchcaravane
4Old Frenchcarvane
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-
van — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer