caravan

Where does the word "caravan" come from? It comes from Persian karwan, passing through French before entering English (1500s).

Caravan’s story begins in Persian: karwan meant “a group of traveling merchants.” A group of travelers journeying together across long distances. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as caravane. Carried into French for a traveling group or their vehicle. It reached English by 1500s as caravan. Settled as the English word for a group of travelers, later a towed vehicle. Today, caravan means a group of people traveling together, or a vehicle equipped for living in.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · ancient karwan "a group of traveling merchants", a group of travelers journeying together across long distances.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval caravane "a traveling group or convoy", carried into French for a traveling group or their vehicle.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s caravan "a group of traveling merchants, or a towed vehicle", settled as the English word for a group of travelers, later a towed vehicle.