Etymology

From a Turkic language.^[1] Compare Old Turkic 𐰉𐰆𐰢𐰣 𐰴𐰍𐰣 ‎(Bumïn qaγan), founder of the Turkic Khaganate who reigned between 551-552. The title itself is a borrowing in Turkic, an earlier recognizable form was used by Juan-juan round about A.D. 400. According to Pulleyblank, Xiongnu royal title hu-yü mentioned in 1st century B.C. is an earlier Chinese transcription of the same word.^[1]