/ ˌkærəˈvænsəraɪ; NAmE ; -ri/ ( BrE ) ( NAmE cara·van·sary /ˌkærəˈvænsəri/ pl. -ies ) noun
1.
in the past, a place where travellers could stay in desert areas of Asia and N Africa
2.
( formal ) a group of people travelling together
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from Persian kārwānsarāy , from kārwān caravan + sarāy palace.