caravansary

[kar-uh-van-suh-ree]

(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

Related formscar·a·van·se·ri·al

[kar-uh-van-seer-ee-uh l] /ˌkær ə vænˈsɪər i əl/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Then he sat in some caravansary, and guarded the candle flame.
Christ Legends
Selma Lagerlf
You must return to the Caravansary that guards these treasures.
The Incredible Honeymoon
E. Nesbit
By this time, Mowbray and Sainton had entered the caravansary.
The Great Mogul
Louis Tracy
At the Caravansary there had been sharp disapproval of the whole thing.
The Precipice
Elia Wilkinson Peattie
At the Caravansary they had scented tragedy, and Kate faced them with the paragraph.
The Precipice
Elia Wilkinson Peattie

Word Origin and History for caravansary

alternative spelling of caravanserai.