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caravansary
(kar′ə van′sə 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
also caravanserai
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.
- An inn built around a large court for accommodating caravans along trade routes in central and western Asia.
- 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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