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Sultan vs Sheik - What's the difference?

sultan | sheik |

As nouns the difference between sultan and sheik

is that sultan is originally, a secular office, formally subordinate to -, but de facto the power behind the throne of the (theoretically universal) caliph while sheik is the leader of an Arab village, family or small tribe.

As a proper noun Sultan

is {{surname}.

sultan

English

(wikipedia sultan)

Noun

  • Originally, a secular office, formally subordinate to -, but de facto the power behind the throne of the (theoretically universal) caliph.
  • A hereditary ruler in various Muslim states (sultanate), varying from petty principalities (as in Indonesia and in Yemen), often vassal of a greater ruler, to independent realms, such as Oman, Brunei, or an empire such as the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
  • (card games) A variant of solitaire, played with two decks of cards.
  • A breed of chicken originating in Turkey, kept primarily in gardens for ornamental reasons. See:

    • Derived terms

    * sultana * sultanate

    See also

    * sultana bird

    References

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    sheik

    English

    Alternative forms

    * sheikh * shaykh

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The leader of an Arab village, family or small tribe.
  • An Islamic religious clergy; the leader of an Islamic religious order.
  • (some Arab Gulf countries)
  • * 1939 , , Coming Up for Air , part 1, chapter 1:
    • When your last natural tooth goes, the time when you can kid yourself that you're a Hollywood sheik , is definitely at an end.
  • (slang) An Arab, especially one dressed in traditional clothing.

    • Usage notes

    The use for a religious leader is colloquial as a means of respect. There is no official title.

    Anagrams

    * English words not following the I before E except after C rule ----