khan

Meaning

1. A ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages.
2. An Ottoman sultan.
3. A noble or man of rank in various Muslim countries of Central Asia, including Afghanistan.

Synonyms

caravansary

caravanserai

sovereign

caravan inn

liege lord

lord

overlord

ruler

Khan

suzerain

dynast

inn

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɑːn/

Etymology

Via late Middle English can, chan from Old French chan, from Medieval Latin chanis, from Turkic *qan, contraction of *qaɣan. Cognate with Old Turkic 𐰴𐰍𐰣 (qaɣan), and Mongolian хаан (xaan). Sense 1 (ruler in the Middle Ages) after Genghis Khan, from Middle Mongol ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ (qaɣan). Doublet of khagan.