khan

1
[ kahn, kan ]
See synonyms for khan on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. (in the Altaic group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or tribal chiefs.

  2. the supreme ruler of the Tatar tribes, as well as emperor of China, during the Middle Ages: a descendant of Genghis Khan.

  1. a title of respect used in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other countries of Asia.

Origin of khan

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Ca(a)n, Chan, ultimately from Turkic Khān, apparently contraction of Khāgān, equivalent to Turkish kağan “ruler”
  • Also Archaic, cham [kam] /kæm/ .

Words Nearby khan

Other definitions for khan (2 of 2)

khan2
[ kahn, kan ]

noun
  1. an inn or caravansary.

Origin of khan

2
1350–1400; <Arabic <Persian; replacing Middle English alchan<Arabic (al the + khān)

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How to use khan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for khan (1 of 3)

khan1

/ (kɑːn) /


noun
    • (formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a name: Kublai Khan

    • such a ruler

  1. a title of respect borne by important personages in Afghanistan and central Asia

Origin of khan

1
C14: from Old French caan, from Medieval Latin caanus, from Turkish khān, contraction of khāqān ruler

British Dictionary definitions for khan (2 of 3)

khan2

/ (kɑːn) /


noun
  1. an inn in Turkey, certain Arab countries, etc; caravanserai

Origin of khan

2
C14: via Arabic from Persian

British Dictionary definitions for Khan (3 of 3)

Khan

/ (kɑːn) /


noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012