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Showing results for kalian. Search instead for kalians.
Synonyms

kalian

American  
[kahl-yahn] / kɑlˈjɑn /

noun

  1. a Persian tobacco pipe in which the smoke is drawn through water; hookah.


kalian British  
/ kælˈjɑːn /

noun

  1. another name for hookah

"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

Etymology

Origin of kalian

First recorded in 1825–35, kalian is from the Persian word qalyān


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

One kalian artist who abandoned paint and canvas altogether was Ettore Bugatti.

From Time Magazine Archive

After all were settled, and their chuddars and veils carefully folded up and put aside by the slaves, then the kalian or water-pipe was brought in, each slave preparing the pipe for her own mistress.

From Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia An account of an Englishwoman's Eight Years' Residence amongst the Women of the East by A. Hume-Griffith

They want to know whether the people smoke kalians and ride horses—real horses, not asps-i-awhans-in Yenghi Donia, and whether the Valiat smoked the kalian with me at Hadji Agha.

From Around the World on a Bicycle - Volume II From Teheran To Yokohama by Thomas Stevens

While my volunteer cook is thus busily engaged, a company of distinguished travellers passing along the road halt at the tchai-khan to smoke a kalian and drink tea.

From Around the World on a Bicycle - Volume 1 From San Francisco to Teheran by Thomas Stevens

The Mustapha is found seated on the raised floor of his open-fronted office, examining, between whiffs of the kalian, papers brought to him by his subordinates, and I hand him my general letter of recommendation.

From Around the World on a Bicycle - Volume II From Teheran To Yokohama by Thomas Stevens

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