caravansary

[ kar-uh-van-suh-ree ]
/ ˌkær əˈvæn sə ri /

noun, plural car·a·van·sa·ries.

(in the Near East) an inn, usually with a large courtyard, for the overnight accommodation of caravans.
any large inn or hotel.
Also car·a·van·se·rai [kar-uh-van-suh-rahy, -rey] /ˌkær əˈvæn səˌraɪ, -ˌreɪ/.

Origin of caravansary

1590–1600; < French caravanserai < Persian kārwānsarāy, equivalent to kārwān caravan + sarāy mansion, inn

OTHER WORDS FROM caravansary

car·a·van·se·ri·al [kar-uh-van-seer-ee-uh l] /ˌkær ə vænˈsɪər i əl/, adjective

Words nearby caravansary

Example sentences from the Web for caravanserai

British Dictionary definitions for caravanserai

caravanserai

caravansary (ˌkærəˈvænsərɪ)

/ (ˌkærəˈvænsəˌraɪ, -ˌreɪ) /

noun plural -rais or -ries

(in some Eastern countries esp formerly) a large inn enclosing a courtyard providing accommodation for caravans

Word Origin for caravanserai

C16: from Persian kārwānsarāī caravan inn