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seraglio

(si ral′yō, -räl′-)

the part of a Muslim household where wives or concubines live; harem
the palace of a Turkish sultan

Origin: It serraglio, enclosure, padlock, also (infl. by Turk saray, palace: see serai), place, seraglio < ML serraculum, a bolt, bar < LL serare, to lock, bar < L sera, a bolt, lock

See seraglio in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. se·ra·glios

A large harem.
A sultan's palace. Also called serai.

Origin:

Origin: Italian serraglio, enclosure, seraglio

Origin: , probably partly from Vulgar Latin *serraculum, enclosure (from *serrāre, to lace up, from Latin serāre, from sera, door-bar)

Origin: and partly from Turkish saray, palace (from Persian sarāy, inn; see terə-² in Indo-European roots)

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