caravansary

car·a·van·sa·ry

noun \ˌker-ə-ˈvan(t)-sə-rē, ˌka-rə-\

plural car·a·van·sa·ries or car·a·van·se·rais or car·a·van·se·rai

Definition of CARAVANSARY

1

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

2

: hotel, inn

Variants of CARAVANSARY

car·a·van·sa·ry or car·a·van·se·rai \-sə-ˌrī\

Examples of CARAVANSARY

1. <a caravansary designed specifically for self-styled cheapskates>

Origin of CARAVANSARY

Persian kārvānsarāī, from kārvān caravan + sarāī palace, inn

First Known Use: 1599

Related to CARAVANSARY

Synonyms

auberge, hotel (or caravanserai), hospice, hostel, hostelry, inn, lodge, public house, tavern

Related Words

B and B, bed-and-breakfast, guesthouse; apartment hotel; accommodations, lodgings, rest; court, motel, motor court, motor inn, motor lodge, resort, spa, tourist court, youth hostel; camp, campground; bunkhouse, dorm, dormitory; boardinghouse, lodging house, rooming house; doss-house [chiefly British], fleabag, flophouse

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

caravansary

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Public building used for sheltering caravans and other travelers in the Middle East. The structure is quadrangular in form and enclosed by a massive wall that has small windows near the top and a few narrow air holes near the bottom. The central court, surrounded by an arcade and storerooms, is usually large enough to contain 300–400 camels. It is open to the sky and has a well with a fountain basin in its center. There are rooms upstairs for lodging.

Variants of CARAVANSARY

caravansary or caravanserai