caravanserai

Where does the word "caravanserai" come from? It comes from Persian karwan-sara'i, passing through Old French before entering English (1590s).

Caravanserai’s story begins in Persian: karwan-sara'i meant “inn for traveling merchant caravans.” Compound of karwan, "caravan," and sara'i, "palace, inn". By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Old French as caravane. Adopted during trade and crusading contact with the Islamic world. It reached English by 1590s as caravansary. Entered English describing the large courtyard inns along Silk Road trade routes. Today, caravanserai means a roadside inn with a large central courtyard, historically used to shelter caravans of traders and travelers.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval karwan-sara'i "inn for traveling merchant caravans", compound of karwan, "caravan," and sara'i, "palace, inn".
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1500s caravane "caravan lodging", adopted during trade and crusading contact with the Islamic world.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s caravansary "roadside inn for caravans", entered English describing the large courtyard inns along Silk Road trade routes.