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. Maundev. (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. Ibid. (1705), 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 pilgriin.
1897. Ld. Roberts, 41 Yrs. India, xiv. (1898), 101. He was a grand specimen of a frontier Khan.
