Turcoman

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A person from a Turkic ethnic group historically inhabiting Central Asia and the region around the Caspian Sea ; a swift horse breed originating from Central Asia, known for endurance and used for riding and racing
2. An individual belonging to a Turkic nomadic people of Central Asia ; a type of Central Asian horse valued for its speed, stamina, and suitability for cavalry
3. A member of the Turkic ethnic groups native to Central Asia and surrounding areas ; a robust horse variety from Central Asia prized for long-distance travel and mounted combat

Etymology: The name "Turcoman" packs a whole Eurasian story into a few letters. It came into English from Medieval Latin "Turcomannus", which itself was borrowed from Classical Persian "turkamān". The Persian form is usually understood as a compound of "Turk" and a word meaning something like "like" or "resembling", so the sense is roughly "Turk-like" or "one who resembles a Turk". The name was applied to Turkic-speaking nomadic peoples of Central Asia and the Middle East, and its spelling has shifted over the centuries. English has the word in two other forms, "Turkman" and "Turkmen", which are doublets: they descend from the same source but reached the language along different routes and at different times, so they now look and sound quite different. "Turkmen" is the form most used today for the people of Turkmenistan. "Turcoman" keeps the older Latinised shape and is the term most often met in historical writing and in the names of rugs and carpets woven by these peoples.

Synonyms: Turkmen