It comes from the Persian word "karwan", which means "a company of travellers" or "a group of merchants travelling together".
This word was adopted into various languages through trade and contact with Persian culture, including:
* Arabic: قافلة (qāfila)
* Turkish: kervan
* French: caravane
* English: caravan
The word "caravan" first appeared in the English language in the 16th century, and it has been used ever since to describe groups of travellers, particularly those travelling across deserts or other challenging landscapes.