Word of the Day

: February 24, 2018

caravansary

noun kair-uh-VAN-suh-ree

What It Means

1 : an inn surrounding a court in eastern countries where caravans rest at night

2 : hotel, inn

caravansary in Context

Most of the area's hotels are on the pricey end of the scale, but there are a few caravansaries for budget travelers.

"In the town of Ishkashim, adjacent to the market, we visited the crumbling remains of a sixth-century caravansary—an ancient motel for Silk Road travelers." — Andy Isaacson, The New York Times, 20 Dec. 2009

Did You Know?

In the Middle East of centuries past, caravans often lodged at caravansaries. These inns were quadrangular in form and enclosed by massive walls with small windows near the top. The central court, which was surrounded by an arcade and storerooms, was large enough to hold 300 to 400 camels. The name was formed from the word caravan and the Persian word sarāī, meaning "palace" or "inn." Caravansary can also be spelled caravanserai, and the word serai is used as a synonym for it.