caravansary

car·a·van·sa·ry

C0097200 (kăr′ə-văn′sə-rē) also car·a·van·se·rai (-rī′)n. pl. car·a·van·sa·ries also car·a·van·se·rais 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. In both senses also called serai.

[French caravanserai, from Persian kārvānsarāy : kārvān, caravan + sarāy, camp, palace; see terə- in Indo-European roots.]

car•a•van•sa•ry

(ˌkær əˈvæn sə ri)

also car•a•van•se•rai

(-səˌraɪ, -ˌreɪ)

n., pl. -sa•ries also -se•rais. 1. (in the Near East) an inn, usu. with a large courtyard, for the overnight accommodation of caravans. 2. any large inn or hotel. [1590–1600; < French < Persian kārwānsarāy=kārwān caravan + sarāy mansion, inn]

Thesaurus

Noun

caravansary - an inn in some eastern countries with a large courtyard that provides accommodation for caravanscaravan inn, caravanserai, khanauberge, hostel, hostelry, inn, lodge - a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

Translations

caravansérail

Caravansary

an inn and trading post for caravans along the roads in the cities of Southwest Asia, Middle Asia, and Transcaucasia. Caravansaries, which have been known since antiquity, were widespread during the ninth through 18th centuries as cities grew and the caravan trade intensified.

Two types are most common: the hall caravansary and thecaravansary with an inner court. The hall caravansaries, seen inArmenia, are retangular buildings divided into naves. The mid-dle nave is designed for men and goods; the animals are kept inthe side naves. The other type has small buildings of one or a fewstories, where travelers stay with their merchandise; the build-ings open on an enclosed court, where the animals are kept.Roadside caravansaries were fortified with protective walls orelse were attached to inns or fortresses (rabats and khans). Thedevelopment of railroads and other modern type of transporthave brought about a decline in the importance of caravansarieson transit roads.

caravansary, caravanserai

interior of a caravansary 1.In the middle east, a building or inn for the overnight lodging of travelers by caravan; usually enclosed by a solid wall and entered through a large gate. 2. By extension, any large inn or hotel.

caravansary

car·a·van·sa·ry

car•a•van•sa•ry

also car•a•van•se•rai

Caravansary

Caravansary

caravansary, caravanserai

caravansary

Synonyms for caravansary

noun an inn in some eastern countries with a large courtyard that provides accommodation for caravans

Synonyms

Related Words