caliph

Alternative forms

• calif, kalif, kaliph, khalif, khalifa

Etymology

From Old French caliphe, from Medieval Latin calipha, from Arabic خَلِيفَة‎ (ḵalīfa, “caliph”) and خَلِيف‎ (ḵalīf, “successor”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkeɪ̪lɨf/, /ˈkælɨf/

Noun

caliph (plural caliphs)

1. The political leader of the Muslim world, successor of Muhammad's political authority, not religious or spiritual.

   Ahmadis call their Caliph the Khalifatul Masih.

Anagrams

• chapli, haplic