dan

[dahn, dan]

noun Martial Arts.

a degree of expertise in karate, judo, tae kwon do, etc., usually signified by the wearing of a cloth belt of a particular color; level: a sixth-degree dan.

Origin of dan

1940–45; < Japanese < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese duàn step, grade

Dan

[dan]

noun

a son of Jacob and Bilhah. Gen. 30:6.

one of the 12 tribes of Israel, traditionally descended from him.

the northernmost city of ancient Palestine.

a male given name, form of Daniel.

Dan

[dan]

noun Archaic.

a title of honor equivalent to master or sir: Dan Chaucer.

Origin of Dan

1275–1325; Middle English < Old French danz < Medieval Latin domnus, contraction of Latin dominus “lord, master”

Dan.

abbreviation

Bible. Daniel(def 1).

Danish.Also Dan

Marino

[muh-ree-noh]

noun

Daniel ConstantineDan, born 1961, U.S. football player.

Quayle

[kweyl]

noun

James DanforthDan, born 1947, vice president of the U.S. 1989–93.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dan

Contemporary Examples of dan

Its first sale was a Dan Colen work, which sold for “something like $120,000 or $150,000.”
William, Kate, and Jay Z’s Favorite Art Star: Alexander Gilkes' World of Rock Stars and Royalty
Tim Teeman
December 10, 2014
The real power lies in a handful of men like Dan Loeb, who personally put up a million dollars to take over the Senate.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools
Zephyr Teachout
November 26, 2014
In his first term, Dan Malloy enacted a hugely ambitious progressive agenda.
Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy to Democrats: Grow a Pair
David Freedlander
November 19, 2014
But perhaps a better name for this crowd would be “the Dan Malloy wing of the Democratic Party.”
Dan Malloy Is Progressives’ Dream Governor. So Why Isn’t He Winning?
David Freedlander
October 30, 2014
There was that Twitter rant by Dan Haseltine, lead singer of Jars of Clay, supporting gay marriage.
Is the Christian Music Industry Softening on Gays?
Matthew Paul Turner
October 19, 2014

Historical Examples of dan

"Dan's goin' t' kill 'imself 'cause 'is wife's gone," blubbered the other.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
Dan was the principal sufferer, as, to say the truth, he ought to have been.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper
Gilead abode beyond Jordan, and why did Dan remain in ships?
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I
Francis Augustus Cox
They were so close to him that Dan could have reached out his hand and touched them.
The Inn at the Red Oak
Latta Griswold
To tell the truth, Dan, it looked like the Marquis; though I couldn't swear to him.
The Inn at the Red Oak
Latta Griswold

British Dictionary definitions for dan

dan

noun

a small buoy used as a marker at seaAlso called: dan buoy

Word Origin for dan

C17: of unknown origin

dan

noun martial arts

any one of the 10 black-belt grades of proficiency

a competitor entitled to dan grading

Compare kyu

Word Origin for dan

Japanese

Dan

noun

an archaic title of honour, equivalent to Master or SirDan Chaucer

Dan

noun Old Testament

the fourth son of Jacob (Genesis 30:1–6)
the tribe descended from him

a city in the northern territory of Canaan

Dan.

abbreviation for

Bible Daniel

Danish

Quayle

noun

Sir (John) Anthony . 1913–89, British actor and theatrical producer: director (1948–56) of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre

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 dan

title of address to members of religious orders, c.1300, from Old French dan (Modern French dom), from Latin dominus "lord" (source of Portuguese don, Spanish don, Italian donno; see don (n.)).

Dan

familiar form of masc. proper name Daniel.

Dan

name of one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel or its territory, named for its founder; literally "he who judges," related to Hebrew din "to judge." In the Old Testament, it occupied the northernmost part of Israel, hence its use proverbially for "utmost extremity," e.g. in from Dan to Beersheba (the southernmost region), 1738.