(formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a name
Kublai Khan
b.
such a ruler
2.
a title of respect borne by important personages in Afghanistan and central Asia
Word origin
C14: from Old French caan, from Medieval Latin caanus, from Turkish khān, contraction of khāqān ruler
khan in British English2
(kɑːn)
noun
an inn in Turkey, certain Arab countries, etc; caravanserai
Word origin
C14: via Arabic from Persian
Khan in British English
(kɑːn)
noun
Imran Khan
khan in American English1
(kɑn; kæn)
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.
Word origin
ME c(h)aan (sp. khan since 19th c.) < OFr chan or ML canus < Turkic khān, lord, prince < Mongolian qan, qaγan
khan in American English2
(kɑn; kæn)
noun
in Turkey and some other Asian countries, a public inn; caravansary
Word origin
Ar khān
Word lists with
khan
Titles of rulers
All related terms of 'khan'
Aga Khan
the hereditary title of the head of the Ismaili sect of Muslims
Ayub Khan
Mohammed . 1907–74, Pakistani field marshal ; president of Pakistan (1958–69)
Imran Khan
full name Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi . born 1952, Pakistani cricketer and politician: an all-rounder , he played in 88 test matches and captained Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup ; elected prime minister of Pakistan in 2018
Khan Tengri
a mountain in central Asia, on the border between Kyrgyzstan and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of W China . Height : 6995 m (22 951 ft)
Kublai Khan
?1216–94, Mongol emperor of China : grandson of Genghis Khan . He completed his grandfather's conquest of China by overthrowing the Sung dynasty (1279) and founded the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)
Kubla Khan
?1216–94, Mongol emperor of China: grandson of Genghis Khan . He completed his grandfather's conquest of China by overthrowing the Sung dynasty (1279) and founded the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)
Genghis Khan
original name Temuchin or Temujin. ?1162–1227, Mongol ruler , whose empire stretched from the Black Sea to the Pacific
Jenghis Khan
original name Temuchin or Temujin. ?1162–1227, Mongol ruler , whose empire stretched from the Black Sea to the Pacific
Jenghiz Khan
→ Genghis Khan
Jinghis Khan
original name Temuchin or Temujin. ?1162–1227, Mongol ruler , whose empire stretched from the Black Sea to the Pacific
Aga Khan IV
Prince Karim ( kəˈriːm ). born 1936, spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Muslims from 1957
Amanullah Khan
1892–1960, emir (1919–26) and king (1926–29) of Afghanistan ; he obtained Afghan independence from Britain (1919)