Definition of kiosk

The word "kiosk" originated in the Turkish language during the Ottoman Empire, specifically during the 17th century. The Turkish word "kuyu" initially meant a drinking fountain or water supply station that was often found in public places. However, over time, some of these water fountains began to evolve into small structures that also served as shops orvending kiosks. The word "kuyu" was subsequently adapted into Greek as "kiosko" and into the Russian language as "kuisak." These modified forms of the word then made their way into other Slavic languages like Polish and Ukrainian as "kijosk," and eventually into English as "kiosk" around the late 1800s. The kiosk design that we are familiar with today typically features a freestanding, small structure that houses a shop, ticket booth, or self-service vending machine. Kiosks are found in a variety of settings, including airports, malls, train stations, and theme parks. Over the centuries, the word "kiosk" has evolved to include not only physical structures but also digital ones, as computer kiosks have become popular in settings such as libraries, museums, and airports.