English
khan
Khan comes from Middle English can, and goes back to Medieval Latin chanis.
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500chanis
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chan
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500can
- Englishtodaykhan
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500chanis
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chan
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500can
- Englishtodaykhan
The story
Via late Middle English can, chan from Old French chan, from Medieval Latin chanis, from Turkic *qan, contraction of *qaɣan.
Linked words
through Middle English can
Another origin of khan
- Persianc. 900–presentخانxân‘caravanserai’
- Arabicc. 500–presentخَانḵān‘inn, caravanserai, hotel’
- Englishtodaykhan
Today it means
noun A ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Medieval Latin chanis / khan