Kwan
/kwɑːn/noun
A school or organization devoted to the teaching of a Korean martial art.
Did you know?Kwan entered English through Korean martial-arts terminology, while its deeper Chinese root 館 also appears in words for institutions, guesthouses, and training halls.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Chinese
館
“A building, guesthouse, hall, or institution”
Middle Chinese
Chinese
kwanX / kuanH
“A hall or established place of residence and activity”
20th Century
Korean
관 (gwan)
“A school, hall, or organizational branch, especially in martial arts”
Mid-20th Century
English
kwan
“A Korean martial-arts school or organization”
Modern English
English
kwan
“A school or organization teaching a Korean martial art”