Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Caliph
Ca′liph
(kā′lĭf)
, Noun.
[OE.
caliphe
, califfe
, F. calife
(cf. Sp. califa
), fr. Ar. khalīfan
successor, fr. khalafa
to succed (i. e. a successor of Mohammed).] Successor or vicar; the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state; – a title of the successors of Mohammed both as temporal and spiritual rulers, used formerly by the sultans of Turkey.
[Written also
calif
, kaliph
, kalif
, khalif
.]