caliph
or ca·lif, ka·lif, ka·liph, kha·lif
[ key-lif, kal-if ]
/ ˈkeɪ lɪf, ˈkæl ɪf /
noun
a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).
Origin of caliph
1350–1400; Middle English
caliphe, califfe < Middle French < Medieval Latin
calipha < Arabic
khalīf(a) successor (of Muhammad), derivative of
khalafa succeed
OTHER WORDS FROM caliph
cal·iph·al [kal-uh-fuh l, key-luh-] /ˈkæl ə fəl, ˈkeɪ lə-/, adjectiveWords nearby caliph
caliorrhaphy,
calipash,
calipee,
caliper,
caliper rule,
caliph,
caliphate,
calippus,
calisaya,
calisthenics,
calix
Example sentences from the Web for caliph
British Dictionary definitions for caliph
caliph
calif, kalif or khalif
/ (ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-) /
noun
Islam
the title of the successors of Mohammed as rulers of the Islamic world, later assumed by the Sultans of Turkey
Word Origin for caliph
C14: from Old French, from Arabic
khalīfa successor