Alcoran arch.
(ælkɒˈrɑːn, ˈælkɒrɑːn, -æn)
Forms: 4–5 alkaron, -oun, 6 alcharon, 6–7 alchoran(e, alcorane, alcaron, 7 alcheron, 7– alcoran 8 alkoran.
[a. (immed. from Fr. alcoran) Arab. al-qorān, the recitation, reading, f. qaraﻋa to recite, read.]
The sacred book of Muslims; the Koran (which is now the usual form).
| 1366 Mandeville xii. 139 The holy book Alkaron that God sente hem be his messager Machomete. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 199 The holy lawes of our Alkaroun [v.r. alkaron], Geven by Goddes messangere Makamete. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 1557, 340/1 As the Turkes doe, bidde men belieue in Machometes alchoran. Ibid. 651/1 Mahomettes alcharon. 1642 Howell For. Trav. (Arb.) 85 They so adore the Alcoran that they never put it under their girdles. 1651 Calderwood Hist. Kirk (1843) II. 297 The Turkes for the maintenance of their Alcaron. 1655 Gouge Comm. Hebr. iii. 7, 320 The Turks Alcheron, the Jews Cabala..are..to be detested. 1728 Morgan Algiers ii. iv. 293 The first chapter of the Al-Coran. 1777 Hume Ess. & Treat. II. 443 A sacred book, such as the Alcoran. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 586 Called the Koran, or Alkoran, by way of eminence, as we say the Bible. |
b. fig.
| a 1659 Cleveland Obseq. 26 A Text on which we find no Gloss at all, But in the Alcoran of Gold-smiths Hall! |