Afghan
[af-gan, -guh n]
- Also Afghani. a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan.
- Pashto.
- (lowercase) a soft woolen blanket, crocheted or knitted, usually in a geometric pattern.
- Also called Afghan hound. one of a breed of swift hunting hounds having a long, narrow head and a long, silky coat.
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- of Afghanistan or its people or language.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for afghan
Contemporary Examples
“The Afghan Taliban are widely considered as freedom fighters in Pakistan and such attacks would hurt them,” says Kakar.
The ISI came to the CIA for assistance in fostering a revolt that had developed in the Afghan countryside against Communist rule.
The machismo of Afghan male culture apparently coexists with a little-noted passion for gardening.
The seizures were the first time SIGAR investigators seized funds held in an Afghan bank.
That ruling was affirmed in a final judgment by the Afghan courts, which the Afghan Supreme Court confirmed in 2013.
Historical Examples
It was the best specimen of Afghan architecture I have seen.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
The situation was, however, complicated by the proximity of the Afghan frontier.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
All along the Afghan border every man's house is his castle.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
The men strolled across the tracks to inspect the Afghan prisoners.
Soldiers Three, Part II.Rudyard Kipling
There we were confronted by Afghan troops, and defeated them at Somatash.
The Coming Conquest of EnglandAugust Niemann
afghan
- a knitted or crocheted wool blanket or shawl, esp one with a geometric pattern
- a sheepskin coat, often embroidered and having long fur trimming around the edges
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Word Origin
from Afghanistan
Afghan
Afghani (æfˈɡænɪ, -ˈɡɑː-)
- a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Afghanistan
- another name for Pashto
- history an Indian camel driver employed in the outback of Australia
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- denoting or relating to Afghanistan, its people, or their language
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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
Word Origin and History for afghan
Afghan
name of the people of Afghanistan, technically only correctly applied to the Durani Afghans; Old Afghan chronicles trace the name to an Afghana, son of Jeremiah, sone of Israelite King Saul, from whom they claimed descent, but this is a legend. The name is first attested in Arabic in al-'Utbi's "History of Sultan Mahmud" written c.1030 C.E. and was in use in India from 13c. Attested from 1833 as a type of blanket or wrap (in full, Afghan shawl); 1973 as a style of sheepskin coat; 1877 as a type of carpet; 1895 as a breed of hunting dog.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper