sultan

[suhl-tn]

noun

1. the sovereign of an Islamic country.

2. (often initial capital letter),  any of the former sovereigns of Turkey.

3. any absolute ruler or despot.

sultan

/ sʌlˈtænɪk, ˈsʌltən /

noun

1. the sovereign of a Muslim country, esp of the former Ottoman Empire

2. an arbitrary ruler; despot

3. a small domestic fowl with a white crest and heavily feathered legs and feet: originated in Turkey

Other Word Forms

• sultan-like adjective
• sultanship noun
• sultanic adjective
• sultanlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sultan¹

1545–55; < Middle French < Turkish < Arabic sulṭān sovereign

Word History and Origins

Origin of sultan¹

C16: from Medieval Latin sultānus, from Arabic sultān rule, from Aramaic salita to rule

Related Words

• czar 
• dictator 
• empress 
• king 
• monarch