khan

Meanings

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.

1. Synonym of caravanserai (particularly in Middle Eastern contexts)
2. Synonym of fonduk (“inn or hotel in Middle Eastern contexts”).

1. A male given name used extensively among Muslims of South Asia.
2. A surname derived from the given name.

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), possibly from Rouran. Sense 1 (ruler in the Middle Ages) after Genghis Khan, from Middle Mongol ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ (qaɣan). Doublet of khagan.