Tatar
/ˈtɑːtɑːr/noun
A member of a Turkic people historically associated with the Mongol Empire and later with regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Did you know?In medieval Europe, the similar-sounding word was often blended with “Tartarus,” the Greek underworld, helping turn the Tatars into a near-mythic symbol of apocalyptic terror.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-13th Century
Turkic
Tatar
“An ethnonym for a Turkic tribal group on the Eurasian steppe.”
13th Century
Mongol/Chinese
Dada / Tata
“A name used for steppe peoples, later applied broadly by outsiders to Mongol-associated groups.”
13th-14th Century
Latin
Tartari
“The western medieval Latin name for the Tatars, often colored by fear and confusion.”
13th-14th Century
Old French
Tartares
“A terrifying label for eastern invaders; the spelling was influenced by association with Tartarus.”
Late Middle English
English
Tartar
“A Tatar; later also a fierce, troublesome person.”
Modern English
English
Tatar
“The standard modern ethnonym for members of several Turkic peoples, especially in Russia and Central Asia.”