khan Hear it!

khan1 definition

khan (kän, kan)

noun

  1. a title given to Genghis Khan and his successors, who ruled Mongolian and Turkic tribes of central Asia and dominated most of Asia during the Middle Ages
  2. a title given to various officials and dignitaries in Iran, Afghanistan, etc.

Etymology: ME c(h)aan (sp. khan since 19th c.) < OFr chan or ML canus < Turkic khān, lord, prince < Mongolian qan, qaγan

khan2 definition

khan (kän, kan)

noun

in Turkey and some other Asian countries, a public inn; caravansary

Etymology: Ar khān

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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