▪ I. ‖ khan1
(kæn, kɑːn)
Forms: 4 caan, 4–6 cane, 4–7 can, 6 canne, 7 caunn; 4–5 chaan, 4–6 chane, 7 chahan, chawn, 4, 7–9 chan; 7–8 han; 9 khaun, khan (kan, kaan). See also cham.
[a. Turkī (hence Pers. and Arab.) khān lord, prince, generally regarded as a modified form of khāqān: see khakan and chagan.
The title became known in Europe partly through the Mongol invasions in the first half of the thirteenth century (appearing in med.L. as chanis, canis, Gr. κάνης, κάνις, OF. chan, cham, etc.), but more esp. through the European missions to the Mongol court in the same century (1245–55) and by the narrative of Marco Polo (1298). In the original French text of the latter the spelling Kan, Can or Chan varies with Kaan or Caan, apparently intended to represent Tartar qā'ān, the special title adopted by Oktai, the son of Chingīz Khan, and his successors. Caanus is also found in med.L. (Du Cange, s.v. Cagan), but the usual forms in the European languages are based on Khān.]
a. Hist. The specific title (usually with great, † grand, or the additions of Tartary, of Cathay) given to the successors of Chingīz Khan, who were supreme rulers over the Turkish, Tartar, and Mongol tribes, as well as emperors of China, during the middle ages. b. In later use: A title (now of slight import) commonly given to rulers, officials, or men of rank in Central Asia, Afghanistan, etc.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xiv. 64 Þis Tartary es halden of þe Grete Caan of Cathay. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 331 The Great Chaan of Tartharys..sent an hooste into the lande of Hungry. 1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. iii. Wks. 1241/1 Both Prester Iohns land, and the graunde Canes too. 1555 Eden Decades 253 They haue much knowleage of the great cane of Cathay. 1623 St. Papers, Col. 1622–4. 211 Sold the small ship to the ‘Caunn, being very desirous of her’. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 52 A Citie..under the Jurisdiction Royall of Emang Ally, the Chawn or great Duke of Shyras. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 388 Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1724/1 The last Week arrived here an Envoy from the Kam of Tartary. 1705 Ibid. No. 4102/2 The old Han of Tartary is lately dead. 1788 Gibbon Decl. & F. xlii. (1869) II. 562 The pride of the great khan survived his resentment. 1798 Malthus Popul. (1878) 67 The power of the Chan being absolute. 1815 Elphinstone Acc. Caubul (1842) I. 213 The chief of an Oolooss is called Khaun... In some Ooloosses, the Khaun is elected by the people. 1857 Max Müller Selected Ess. II. 269 One of the Tatar Khans..sent for the Buddhist pilgrim. 1897 Ld. Roberts 41 Yrs. India xiv. (1898) 101 He was a grand specimen of a frontier Khan. |
▪ II. ‖ khan2
(kæn, kɑːn)
Forms: α. (4 alchan), 7 c(h)ane, kan(ne, 8 k(h)ane, 8– khan. β. 7- han(e, 7–8 hawn, 8 hann.
[Arab. khān inn.]
In the East: A building (unfurnished) for the accommodation of travellers; a caravanserai.
| α c 1400 Three Kings Cologne 22 He dischargeþ hym his hors..of his berthen and so sendeth hym into swich a hows þat is cleped þere also alchan. [1612 Trav. Four Englishm. 77 In Cities they haue very stately Canes, but not for trauellers, but for themselues to dwell in; for every rich man calleth his house a Cane.] 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 57 Legacies for..building of Canes for the reliefe of passengers. 1682 Wheler Journ. Greece i. 37 There is a Kanne there, which serveth for a Warehouse. 1759 Russell in Phil. Trans. LI. 533 At Seidon, great part of the Frank kane was overthrown. 1775 R. Chandler Trav. Asia M. (1825) I. 193 We stopped at the khan, while our men purchased provisions. 1880 A. H. Huth Buckle II 161 The badly-cooked, indigestible stuff which most Eastern travellers eat at the Khans. 1947 Archit. Rev. CII. 99 (caption) The nearest building, with a row of small domes, is the khan or shopping centre. 1951 A. Christie They came to Baghdad i. 8 Captain Crosbie..turned down a small alleyway into a large Khan or Court. 1958 R. Liddell Morea ii. vii. 165 The buses going to Arcadia pull up at a khan near the village of Alepochori. |
| β 1642 Howell For. Trav. (Arb.) 84 They are great Founders of Hospitalls, of Hanes to entertain Travellers. 1653 Greaves Seraglio 182 Divers Hawns (commonly called Canes) in which wayfaring men do lodge. 1704 J. Pitts Acc. Mahometans 173 A Hawn or Inn adjoyning to the Harbour. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Mrs. Thistlethwayte 1 Apr., Their mosques are all of freestone, and the public hanns, or inns, extremely magnificent. 1903 Westm. Gaz. 10 Feb. 3/1 The hans are large, rambling inns, with a courtyard in the middle. 1920 Q. Rev. Apr. 395 Four hundred emaciated forms, the remnant of such convoys, are lying in one of the hans. |