khan
1[ kahn, kan ]
/ kɑn, kæn /
noun
(in the Altaic group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or tribal chiefs.
the supreme ruler of the Tatar tribes, as well as emperor of China, during the Middle Ages: a descendant of Genghis Khan.
a title of respect used in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other countries of Asia.
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king, monarch, emperor, czar, sultan, shah, majesty, queen, empress, mogul, kaiser, prince, baron, royal, sovereign, potentate, lord, dame, tycoon, baroness
Nearby words
Origin of khan
11350–1400; Middle English Ca(a)n, Chan ≪ Turkic Khān, apparently contraction of Khāgān, equivalent to Turkish kağan ruler
khan
2[ kahn, kan ]
/ kɑn, kæn /
noun
an inn or caravansary.
Origin of khan
21350–1400; < Arabic < Persian; replacing Middle English alchan < Arabic (al the + khān)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for khan
khan
1/ (kɑːn) /
noun
- (formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a nameKublai Khan
- such a ruler
a title of respect borne by important personages in Afghanistan and central Asia
Word Origin for khan
C14: from Old French caan, from Medieval Latin caanus, from Turkish khān, contraction of khāqān ruler
noun
an inn in Turkey, certain Arab countries, etc; caravanserai
Word Origin for khan
C14: via Arabic from Persian
Khan
/ (kɑːn) /
noun
See Imran Khan
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
khan
c.1400, from Turkic, literally "lord, prince," contraction of khaqan "ruler, sovereign." Known in Europe since 13c., cf. Latin chanis, Greek kanes, Old French chan.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper