Etymology Map
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Tughra

3 stages from Oghuz Turkic to English.

Today it means the ornate calligraphic monogram of an Ottoman sultan

Where does the word "tughra" come from? It comes from Oghuz Turkic tughragh, passing through Ottoman Turkish before entering English (1800s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
tughragh
Oghuz Turkic · medieval
"royal emblem"
a royal seal or emblem among the Oghuz Turks, from whom the Seljuks and Ottomans descended
2
Stage 2 of 3
tuğra
Ottoman Turkish · 1300s-1900s
"sultan's monogram"
drawn at the head of every imperial decree and stamped on coins, it spelled out the sultan's name and titles
3
Stage 3 of 3
tughra
English · 1800s
"an Ottoman sultan's monogram"
the illuminated tughras of Suleiman the Magnificent became prized in Western museums as masterpieces of calligraphy
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Read the full story

Tughra’s story begins in Oghuz Turkic: tughragh meant “royal emblem.” A royal seal or emblem among the Oghuz Turks, from whom the Seljuks and Ottomans descended. By 1300s-1900s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as tuğra. Drawn at the head of every imperial decree and stamped on coins, it spelled out the sultan's name and titles. It reached English by 1800s as tughra. The illuminated tughras of Suleiman the Magnificent became prized in Western museums as masterpieces of calligraphy. Today, tughra means the ornate calligraphic monogram of an Ottoman sultan.