Chaghatay
/ˌtʃæɡəˈtaɪ/noun
A historical name for the Chagatai Turkic language and for things associated with the Chagatai Khanate of Central Asia.
Did you know?Chaghatay was not originally the name of a language: it was derived from Chagatai Khan, a son of Genghis Khan, whose name later labeled one of Central Asia’s most influential literary traditions.
Etymological Timeline
13th Century
Mongolian
Čaɣatai
“The personal name of Chagatai, the second son of Genghis Khan; the name’s deeper meaning is uncertain.”
13th–14th Century
Mongolian/Persian
Čaġatāy / جغتای
“A name referring to Chagatai Khan and his dynasty or territories.”
14th Century
Chaghatay Turkic
čaġatāy
“A designation for the Turkic literary language developing in Central Asia under Chagatai political and cultural influence.”
15th–16th Century
Persian and Central Asian usage
چغتایی
“Chaghatay; the prestigious literary language used by scholars and poets, including Ali-Shir Nava'i.”
17th–19th Century
European scholarship
Chagatai / Chaghatay
“Names used by European orientalists for the historical Turkic literary language.”
Modern English
English
Chaghatay
“A variant English spelling of Chagatai, referring chiefly to the historical language, dynasty, or cultural sphere.”