sultan

Where does the word "sultan" come from? It comes from Arabic sultan, passing through Ottoman Turkish before entering English (medieval).

Sultan’s story begins in Arabic: sultan meant “power, ruler.” Meaning "power" or "authority", later a ruler's title. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as sultan. Arabic 'power, authority'; Mahmud of Ghazni was one of the first rulers to use it as a title. It reached English by medieval as sultan. Adopted for Muslim rulers generally. Today, sultan means a sovereign or ruler in some Muslim countries.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval sultan "power, ruler", meaning "power" or "authority", later a ruler's title.
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval sultan "the Ottoman ruler", Arabic 'power, authority'; Mahmud of Ghazni was one of the first rulers to use it as a title.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval sultan "a Muslim sovereign or ruler", adopted for Muslim rulers generally.