Historically, the region that is now modern-day Kuwait was known by several older names and designations before adopting its current moniker. In the 17th and 18th centuries, before the founding of the modern ruling Al-Sabah dynasty, the area and its original settlement were frequently referred to as Kut, which translates from an Arabic term meaning a fortress or stronghold built near water. Over subsequent decades, this diminutive form evolved linguistically into Kwait and eventually Kuwait, reflecting its geographic growth from a small fishing and trading fort into a prominent autonomous coastal town on the Persian Gulf.