I am still imprressed Donald Trump is claiming he invented the word 'caravan'.
even though...
The word "caravan" comes from the Old Persian word kārvān or kārvān, meaning "group of travelers" or "company of merchants," which entered European languages via Italian (caravana) and French (caravane) around the time of the Crusades and the Ottoman Empire. The term initially described a company of people, animals, and goods traveling together for safety, particularly in desert regions, and later expanded to include vehicles that transported them. In English, the term was first used in the late 16th century.
Tracing the word's journey:
Old Persian: The word originates in Old Persian as kārvān, referring to a company of travelers, especially merchants.
Middle Persian: This word also appeared in Middle Persian as kārawān.
European languages: During the Crusades and through contact with travelers in the Ottoman Empire, the term was adopted into European languages, such as Medieval Latin (caravanna) and Middle French (caravane).
English: The word entered English in the late 16th century, initially referring to a group of people and animals traveling together for safety, particularly in desert areas.
Modern usage: The term evolved to also describe the vehicle used for carrying people and their belongings, leading to the modern use for camping trailers and processions of vehicles.
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caravan - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
A caravan of camels in Jordan valley (West Bank) A car pulling a caravan. From Middle French caravane, from Old French carvane, fr...
