caravansary

(kar′ə vansə rē)

noun pl. caravansaries

in the Near and Middle East, a kind of inn with a large central court, where caravans stop for the night

Origin: Fr caravansérai < Pers kārwānsarāï < kārwān, caravan + sarāï, palace, mansion, inn

See caravansary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. car·a·van·sa·ries also car·a·van·se·rais In both senses also called serai.
  1. An inn built around a large court for accommodating caravans along trade routes in central and western Asia.
  2. A large inn or hostelry.

Origin:

Origin: French caravanserai

Origin: , from Persian kārvānsarāy

Origin: : kārvān, caravan

Origin: + sarāy, camp, palace; see terə-2 in Indo-European roots

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